ANC01LA117

The air taxi pilot was departing a small village airport in rural Alaska when the left wing collided with a tree. According to the company's director of operations, the pilot originally reported the accident as in-flight collision with a bird, but it was learned later that it was a tree. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.

On July 25, 2001, about 1310 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 207 airplane, N9973M, operated by Grant Aviation as a scheduled commuter flight under 14 CFR Part 135, received substantial damage when it collided with a tree shortly after takeoff from the Kalskag Airport, Kalskag, Alaska. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. The flight was en route to Emmonak, Alaska, and operated in visual meteorological conditions. A company flight plan was in effect.

According to a letter dated July 27, 2001, from the director of operations for Grant Aviation and addressed to an Anchorage, Alaska, Flight Standards District Office air safety inspector, the accident airplane's left wingtip collided with a tree while in a low altitude turn shortly after takeoff. The pilot reportedly thought it was bird strike, and he elected to continue to his destination of Emmonak.

Postaccident inspection of the airplane disclosed a damaged wingtip, a crushed outboard nose rib, and a damaged leading edge. Repairs made to the airplane included a replacement nose rib, a new wingtip, and a new segment of leading edge skin, which required riveting to the semi-monocoque wing structure.