# NTSB ANC04LA032: Cessna 208B, N1276P, Toksook Bay, AK, February 10, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 10, 2004, 16:52 local (20:52 UTC) - Place: Toksook Bay, AK - Coordinates: 60.533611, -165.113616 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.5336&lon=-165.1136&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 7 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-AND FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 58726 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04LA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58726/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA032 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate planning and decision to initiate a takeoff into a crosswind that exceeded the airplane's demonstrated crosswind component, which resulted in a loss of directional control during the takeoff roll, and subsequent collision with terrain and nose over. Factors contributing to the accident were the crosswind, an icy runway, and the pilot's failure to abort the takeoff. ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was departing on a VFR scheduled commuter flight. The runway was 3,200 feet long and 60 feet wide, and the surface had areas of packed snow and ice. A right crosswind was estimated between 15 to 25 knots. About 300 feet after beginning the takeoff roll, between 30 to 50 knots airspeed, the airplane began to drift to the left, which the pilot was unable to correct. The airplane departed off the left side of the runway and nosed over. The airplane received damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity, takeoff or landing, is 20 knots. ## Factual narrative On February 10, 2004, about 1652 Alaska standard time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 208B airplane, N1276P, sustained substantial damage when it collided with snow-covered terrain after it departed the runway and nosed over during the takeoff roll at the Toksook Bay Airport, Toksook Bay, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) scheduled passenger flight to Newtok, Alaska, under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated as Flight 2821 by Grant Aviation Inc., Anchorage, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, and the 6 passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on February 12, the director of operations for the operator reported that the pilot was departing on runway 34. The runway surface had areas of packed snow and ice, and the director of operations indicated that he had received reports that a right crosswind was blowing from 070 degrees between 15 to 25 knots. According to the director of operations, the pilot said that about 300 feet after beginning the takeoff roll, between 30 to 50 knots airspeed, the airplane began to drift to the left, which he was unable to correct. The airplane departed off the left side of the runway and nosed over. The airplane received damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. Runway 34 at Toksook Bay is 3,200 feet long and 60 feet wide. According to the accident airplane's information manual, the maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity, takeoff or landing, is 20 knots. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - crosswind component - exceeded, pilot in command - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - icy (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - snow covered - Nose over, takeoff - roll/run ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1276P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1276P-2007-07-05), registration cancelled 2007-07-05, S/N 208B0852, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 208B - Registry model: [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b) (registry code 2073701) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 208B0852 - Airframe hours: 3897 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-114A 675 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Grant Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, January 30, 2004, 24 hours before - Departed: OOK, Toksook Bay, AK - Destination: PAEW, NEWTOK, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: OOK, Toksook Bay, runway 34, 3,200 × 60 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review October 17, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 3,800 total, 190 in this make and model, 230 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 15 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 28.87 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 20040210001269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040210001269A), Feb 10, 2004: Cessna 208B, Toksook Bay, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On February 10, 2004, about 1700 Alaska standard time. A wheel equipped Cessna 208B airplane, N1276P sustained substantial damage when it drifted off the… ## Other investigations on N1276P (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 ANC03LA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA030), Jan 30, 2003: Cessna 208B (N1276P), Russian Mission, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to use a tail stand while loading passengers, which resulted in the airplane's tail impacting the ground. 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.