# NTSB ANC02LA019: Cessna 207A, N7373U, Kotlik, AK, March 1, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 1, 2002, 14:35 local (18:35 UTC) - Place: Kotlik, AK - Coordinates: 63.031112, -163.529998 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.0311&lon=-163.5300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 16, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 54295 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54295/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54295 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA019 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain the proper glide path to the runway during the final approach for a VFR landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was on final approach for landing at a remote airport during a scheduled domestic passenger flight. The airplane was about 300 feet above the ground, with 15 degrees of flaps, and an airspeed of about 80 knots. The pilot said that the airplane's airspeed seemed too fast, so he reduced engine power. The airplane's airspeed then became too slow, so he increased engine power, but the airplane collided with terrain short of the runway threshold. The airplane received damage to the nose gear, propeller, and left wing. The runway is 4,422 feet long, by 100 feet wide. ## Factual narrative On March 1, 2002, about 1435 Alaska standard time, a Cessna 207A airplane, N7373U, sustained substantial damage during landing at the Kotlik Airport, Kotlik, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) scheduled domestic passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated as Flight 408, by Hageland Aviation Services Inc., Anchorage, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, and the four passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Mountain Village Airport, Mountain Village, Alaska, at 1338. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on March 1, the director of operations for the operator reported the pilot told him that he was on final approach for landing on runway 19 at Kotlik. The airplane was about 300 feet above the ground, with 15 degrees of flaps, and an airspeed of about 80 knots. The pilot said that the airplane's airspeed seemed too fast, so he reduced engine power. The airplane's airspeed then became too slow, so he increased engine power, but the airplane collided with terrain short of the runway threshold. The airplane received damage to the nose gear, propeller, and left wing. Runway 19 at Kotlik has a gravel surface, and is 4,422 feet long, by 100 feet wide. The remarks section of the airport facility directory/Alaska Supplement for Kotlik states, in part: "Unattended. Runway condition not monitored, recommend visual inspection prior to landing. ...Runway 01-19 marked with reflective cones." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7373U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7373U), registered now, S/N 20700423, built 1977 (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: 20700423 - Airframe hours: 11090 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Hageland Aviation Services Inc. - Registered owner: Gussic Ventures - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, March 8, 2002, 45 hours before - Departed: MOU, MTN. VILLAGE, AK - Destination: 2A9, KOTLIK, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: 2A9, Kotlik, runway 19, 4,422 × 100 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 14, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 1,000 total, 117 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 28 °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 20020301003219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020301003219A), Mar 1, 2002: Cessna 207A, Kotlik, AK, No damage. (-23) On March 1, 2002, at about 1430 Alaska standard time, a Cessna CE-207-A, N7373U, piloted by michael b. olson, a commercial rated pilot and registered to… ## Other investigations on N7373U (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 ANC93LA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA024), Jan 5, 1993: Cessna 207A (N7373U), Scammon Bay, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOTS FAILURE TO FOLLOW VFR PROCEDURES. A FACTOR WAS THE WHITEOUT SNOW CONDITION. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54295. 309 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 309 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391596&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.