# NTSB ANC03LA108: Cessna 206, N206J, Kaktovik, AK, September 5, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 5, 2003, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Kaktovik, AK - Coordinates: 70.050003, -144.050003 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=70.0500&lon=-144.0500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57889 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA108 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57889/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA108 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during takeoff which resulted in a loss of control during initial climb. Factors associated with the accident were wet and muddy runway conditions, and the pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - terrain condition - muddy (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor) - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - Abrupt maneuver, takeoff - aborted - ground loop/swerve - intentional, pilot in command - Main gear collapsed, takeoff - aborted ## Analysis The airline transport certificated pilot, with three passengers, was departing from a wet and mud-covered off-airport site on a CFR Part 135 on-demand charter flight. The pilot reported that just after lift-off the left wing stalled, and the airplane settled to the ground. He said that he realized after touchdown he would be unable to stop the airplane before reaching the end of the site, so he elected to make a hard turn to the left in an attempt to ground loop the airplane. During the ground loop, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. In the pilot's written statement to the NTSB, the pilot wrote, in part: "It is believed that we lost a cylinder, will confirm when able to do a test." On January 14, 2004, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector examined the accident airplane and engine after the airplane had been recovered from the accident site. The FAA inspector reported that he did not discover any preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane or engine. ## Factual narrative On September 5, 2003, about 1500 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 206 airplane, N206J, sustained substantial damage when the main landing gear collapsed during an aborted takeoff from a remote off-airport site, about 15 miles southwest of Barter Island, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by MAA, Inc., doing business as Alaska Flyers as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand charter flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airline transport certificated pilot, and the three passengers, were not injured. According to the pilot, visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident, and was en route to Barter Island. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 5, at 1615, the pilot reported that just after lift-off from the wet and mud-covered site, the left wing stalled, and the airplane settled to the ground. The pilot said that he realized after touchdown he would be unable to stop the airplane before reaching the end of the site, and elected to make a hard turn to the left in an attempt to ground loop the airplane. During the ground loop, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. During the conversation, the pilot reported weather conditions at the time of the accident were, in part: Wind, calm; visibility, 3 to 4 miles with light snow; temperature, 33 degrees F. According to the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, dated October 3, 2003, the pilot wrote, in part: "It is believed that we lost a cylinder, will confirm when able to do a test." Additionally, the pilot reported that weather conditions at the time of the accident were, in part: Wind, calm; visibility, greater than 10 miles with haze; sky condition and ceiling, 1,500 feet overcast; temperature, 45 degrees F. On January 14, 2004, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector, Fairbanks, Alaska Flight Standards District Office, examined the accident airplane and engine after it was transported to North Pole, Alaska. The FAA inspector reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies noted with the airplane or engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N206J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N206J), registered now, S/N U2060965, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 206 - Registry model: [Cessna U206C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206c) (registry code 2073332) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520-F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-f) (registry code 17237, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U206-0965 - Airframe hours: 5934.8 - Engines: Continental TIO-520-E 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: MAA, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 10, 2003, 70.6 hours before - Departed: PABA, Barter Island, AK - Destination: PABA, Barter Island, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 13, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 14,467 total, 2,400 in this make and model, 227 in the last 90 days, 99 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg ## 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 20030905034679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030905034679A), Sep 5, 2003: Cessna TU206C, Barter Island, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) NTSB# ANC03CA108 [privacy data omitted] on September 5, 2003 a Cessna CE-206, N206J, piloted by waldo dwight audi crashed during takeoff from a mud flat… ## Other investigations on N206J (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 ANC14LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14LA085), Sep 22, 2014: Cessna TU206 (N206J), Deadhorse, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The application of insufficient torque to the engine cylinder through bolts during the replacement of the No. 1 cylinder, which resulted in the displacement of the No. 2 bearing, oil starvation, and… 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.