- Date
- January 19, 2001, 16:35 local (20:35 UTC)
- Place
- Kongiganak, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N7340UCessna 207
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 20, 2002
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20010119039969A
- Case key
- 53186
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during the takeoff roll. A factor associated with the accident was a crosswind.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The certificated commercial pilot was departing on runway 36, which required a correction for a right crosswind. The runway surface had a light accumulation of freshly plowed snow. While on the departure roll, about half-way down the runway, the airplane veered to the left. In an attempt to maintain runway alignment, the pilot stated that he applied full right rudder, and full right aileron. Just before takeoff, the airplane's left main wheel contacted soft snow on the left side of the runway. The airplane pivoted 90 degrees to the left, and nosed over. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident anomalies with the airplane.
Factual narrative
On January 19, 2001, about 1635 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 207 airplane, N7340U, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from the Kongiganak Airport, Kongiganak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand charter flight transporting mail under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was owned by Gussic Ventures Partnership, doing business as Hageland Aviation Services, Inc., Anchorage, Alaska. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company visual flight rules (VFR) flight following procedures were in effect for the flight to Bethel, Alaska.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on January 20, the pilot reported that runway 36 had a light accumulation of freshly plowed snow. He added that winds were strong out of the east, estimated to be 20 knots, gusting to 25 knots, which required a correction for a right crosswind. The pilot said while on the departure roll, about half-way down the runway, the airplane veered to the left. He said that in an attempt to maintain runway alignment, he applied full right rudder, and full right aileron. Just before takeoff, the airplane's left main wheel contacted soft snow on the left side of the runway. The airplane pivoted 90 degrees to the left, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and empennage.
The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident anomalies with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7340U
- Reported as
- Cessna 207
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20700407
- Airframe hours
- 12,114.6
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-F27B, 300 horsepower, unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Hageland Aviation Services
- Registered owner
- Gussic Ventures
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 5, 2001 · 65.5 hours before
- Departed
- DUY · Kongiganak, AK
- Destination
- BET · Bethel, AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- DUY · Kongiganak, runway 36, 1,880 × 35 ft, gravel
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 30
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Unknown, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- November 19, 2000
- Flight hours
- 925 total · 100 in this make and model · 700 as pilot in command · 165 in the last 90 days · 55 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N7340U · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.