# NTSB ANC01LA070: Cessna 207A, N6295H, Deadhorse, AK, April 26, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 25, 2001, 17:50 local (Apr 26, 2001, 01:50 UTC) - Place: Deadhorse, AK - Coordinates: 69.116668, -151.466659 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=69.1167&lon=-151.4667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 52542 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA070 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52542/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA070 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance while maneuvering. Factors associated with the accident were flat light conditions, and snow-covered terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - other (contributing factor) - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) ## Analysis The certificated airline transport pilot was conducting an aerial caribou survey, aided by radio-equipped tracking collars. He began to receive a radio signal and began a descent over the flat, featureless, snow-covered terrain, and was soon able to make visual contact with a herd of caribou. The pilot said, in part: "...as we passed over the top of the herd I made a turn to the right. The wings had just rolled level, and the airplane just came to a stop in the snow." He added that during the turn, he lost visual contact with the snow-covered terrain, and collided with the ground at a shallow angle. He reported that flat light conditions made it very difficult to discern any topographical features in the surrounding area. ## Factual narrative On April 25, 2001, about 1750 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 207A airplane, N6295H, sustained substantial damage when it collided with snow-covered terrain about 80 miles southwest of Deadhorse, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, Cape Smythe Air Service, Barrow, Alaska. The certificated airline transport pilot, and the two passengers aboard, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was in effect. The flight originated at the Umiat Airport, Umiat, Alaska, about 1715. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on April 26, the pilot reported that he was conducting an aerial caribou survey, aided by radio-equipped tracking collars. He added that the two passengers aboard were wildlife biologists employed by the State of Alaska. He said that after departing from Umiat he climbed the airplane to 5,500 feet in search of another caribou, and soon began to receive a radio signal. He began a descent over the flat, featureless, snow-covered terrain, and was soon able to make visual contact with a herd of caribou. The pilot said, in part: "...as we passed over the top of the herd I made a turn to the right. The wings had just rolled level, and the airplane just came to a stop in the snow." He added that during the turn, he lost visual contact with the snow-covered terrain, and collided with the ground at a shallow angle. He reported that flat light conditions made it very difficult to discern any topographical features in the surrounding area. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The airplane was not recovered until June 13 due to poor weather, and flat light conditions. The operator's director of maintenance reported that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage as a result of the collision. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6295H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6295H-2024-04-05), registration cancelled 2024-04-05, S/N 20700471, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 207A - Registry model: [Cessna 207A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207a) (registry code 2073604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20700471 - Airframe hours: 17049.9 - Engines: Continental IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Cape Smythe Air Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 19, 2001, 19.1 hours before - Departed: SCC, Deadhorse, AK - Destination: BRW, Barrow, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 24, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 21,375 total, 196 in this make and model, 20,850 as pilot in command, 74 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken - Temperature: 3 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010425007389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010425007389A), Apr 25, 2001: Cessna 207A, Umiat, AK, Substantial damage. (-23)The pilot was conducting low level aerial game surveys and could not see the snow covered terrain. Just after completing a 180 degree turn the aircraft… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.