# NTSB ANC02LA006: Cessna 207A, N7384U, Kobuk, AK, October 23, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 23, 2001, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Kobuk, AK - Coordinates: 66.909164, -156.861114 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.9092&lon=-156.8611&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 2, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-FAI FSDO 01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 53858 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA006 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53858/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA006 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from objects during the initial climb after takeoff, and subsequent collision with a tree. A factor was the presence of trees along the runway. ## 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 - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot departed a remote airport for a cross-country flight to his home base. During the departure, the pilot said he heard a loud bang, but said he did not see what he struck. While in cruise flight after departure, the pilot noticed damage to the leading edge of the right wing. He then landed at an interim airport, and telephoned a company mechanic. After a discussion with the mechanic, the pilot continued the flight to his base. Company personnel initially attributed the wing damage to a bird strike. Company maintenance personnel decided the wing damage was greater than minor. A temporary patch was fashioned, and the airplane was ferried to the company maintenance facility. When repairs were started, company maintenance personnel noted that the impact location on the right wing contained wood splinters. During a subsequent visit with the NTSB IIC, the pilot produced photographs of the damaged wing. The wing, just outboard of the lift strut, had aft crushing and vertical tearing of the leading edge material. Company maintenance personnel reported the wing repair consisted of replacement of the leading edge. Review of the runway environment revealed 25 to 30 feet high trees along both sides, and near the end of the departure airport. ## Factual narrative On October 13, 2001, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 207A airplane, N7384U, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from Kobuk, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country positioning flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Flight Alaska Inc., Anchorage, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The intended destination was Kotzebue, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on November 8, 2001, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) principle operations inspector (POI) for the company reported he was notified by the operator on November 7, of damage to the right wing of the accident airplane. In a subsequent telephone conversation with the company's director of operations, the NTSB IIC learned that the pilot reportedly told company personnel he collided with an unknown object as he departed Kobuk. While in cruise flight after departure from Kobuk, the pilot noticed damage to the leading edge of the right wing. He then landed at Kiana, Alaska, and telephoned a company mechanic in Kotzebue. After a discussion with the mechanic, the pilot departed Kiana and landed at Kotzebue. The director of operations said that the initial report from company personnel in Kotzebue attributed the wing damage to a bird strike. The director of operations said that maintenance personnel in Kotzebue determined the wing damage was greater than minor. A temporary patch was fashioned, and the airplane was ferried to the company maintenance facility in Anchorage on October 14. When repairs were started on November 2, company maintenance personnel noted that the impact location on the right wing contained wood splinters. During a visit with the NTSB IIC on November 30, the pilot said he departed runway 27 at Kobuk. During the takeoff, he heard a loud bang, but said he did not see what he struck. He produced photographs of the damaged wing. The wing, just outboard of the lift strut, had aft crushing and vertical tearing of the leading edge material. Company maintenance personnel reported the wing repair consisted of replacement of the leading edge. An examination of Kobuk airport environment, depicted in the FAA's Airport Master Record (FAA form 5010-1), revealed 25 to 30 feet high trees along each side, and near the departure end of runway 27. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7384U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7384U), registered now, S/N 20700431, 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: 20700431 - Airframe hours: 25038 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Flight Alaska Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 7, 2001, 56 hours before - Departed: OBU, KOBUK, AK - Destination: PAOT, KOTZEBUE, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: OBU, Kobuk, runway 27, 2,360 × 58 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 24, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 739 total, 220 in this make and model, 500 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 25 °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 20011023031999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011023031999A), Oct 23, 2001: Cessna 207A, Kobuk, AK, No damage. (-23) Airman stated that he was ill and probably should not have flown on the day of the accident. He also said that he was practicing a short-field takeoff… ## Other investigations on N7384U (1) 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. - [NTSB ANC02LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA066), Jun 30, 2002: Cessna 207 (N7384U), Chevak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point resulting in an undershoot, and subsequent collision with gravel terrain. 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.