# NTSB ANC01LA117: Cessna 207, N9973M, Kalskag, AK, July 25, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 25, 2001, 13:10 local (21:10 UTC)
- Place: Kalskag, AK
- Coordinates: 61.540554, -160.318328
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5406&lon=-160.3183&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 15, 2002
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 53218
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA117
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53218/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA117

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from an object during the initial climb after takeoff.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - altitude/clearance - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

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.

## Factual narrative

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.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9973M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9973M-2014-04-29), registration cancelled 2014-04-29, S/N 20700771, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 207
- Registry model: [Cessna 207A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207a) (registry code 2073605) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520-F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-f) (registry code 17237, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20700771
- Airframe hours: 19657
- Engines: Continental IO-520300 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Grant Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 29, 2001, 71 hours before
- Departed: KLG, KALSKAG, AK
- Destination: ENM, EMMONAK, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: KLG, Kalskag

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 29, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 3,303 total, 1,652 in this make and model, 207 in the last 90 days, 72 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 64 °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 20010725039649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010725039649A), Jul 25, 2001: Cessna 207A, Kalskag, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Following reported by operator: wed., July 25 2001, aircraft N9973M departed Kalskag, Alaska at 13:10 enroute emmonak, Alaska. The aircraft had no…

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.

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