# NTSB ANC05LA015: Cessna U206F, N9644G, Bethel, AK, November 19, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 19, 2004, 14:31 local (18:31 UTC) - Place: Bethel, AK - Coordinates: 60.779724, -161.838058 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7797&lon=-161.8381&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 60597 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60597/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05LA015 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather conditions, and his inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent nose over during taxi from landing. A factor contributing to the accident was a tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - from landing - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, taxi - from landing ## Analysis At the conclusion of the positioning flight, the airline transport certificated pilot exited the runway at a taxiway, and proceeded toward the ramp area of the airport. As he turned the airplane toward the parking area, a right quartering tailwind lifted the tail of the airplane, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane received damage to the left wing, the left wing strut, and the vertical stabilizer. A special weather observation at the airport was reporting, in part: Wind, 160 degrees (true) at 26 knots, gusts to 35 knots. The pilot indicated that his source of weather information was the Automated Terminal Information System (ATIS), and a "wind check" with the air traffic control tower. The pilot reported that the wind was 130 degrees (magnetic) at 22 knots, gusts to 27 knots. ## Factual narrative On November 19, 2004, at 1431 Alaska standard time, a tundra tire-equipped Cessna U206F airplane, N9644G, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during taxi from landing at the Bethel Airport, Bethel, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area positioning flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Katmai Air LLC, Anchorage, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Napaskiak Airport about 1420. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on November 20, the director of operations for the operator reported that the pilot landed on runway 11 at the conclusion of the positioning flight. The pilot exited the runway by turning left at taxiway E and then proceeded toward the ramp area of the airport. The director of operations said that as the pilot turned the airplane toward the parking area, a right quartering tailwind lifted the tail of the airplane, and the pilot was unable to prevent the airplane from nosing over. The airplane received damage to the left wing, the left wing strut, and the vertical stabilizer. At 1430, a special weather observation at the Bethel Airport was reporting, in part: Wind, 160 degrees (true) at 26 knots, gusts to 35 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 2,800 feet broken, 3,600 feet broken, 4,600 feet overcast; temperature, 37 degrees F; dew point, 31 degrees F; altimeter, 29.07 inHg; remarks, peak wind at 1423, 140 degrees (true) at 35 knots. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6102.1) submitted by the pilot, the pilot indicated that his source of weather information was the Bethel Automated Terminal Information System (ATIS), and a "wind check" with Bethel's air traffic control tower. The pilot reported that the wind was 130 degrees (magnetic) at 22 knots, gusts to 27 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9644G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9644G), registered now, S/N U20601844 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna U206F - Registry model: [Cessna U206F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206f) (registry code 2073333) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U20601844 - Airframe hours: 8716 - Engines: Continental IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Katmai Air LLC., doing business as Katmai Air - Registered owner: Katmai Air Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 12, 2004, 22 hours before - Departed: PKA, Napaskiak, AK - Destination: PABE, Bethel, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: PABE, Bethel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 15, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 3,450 total, 1,850 in this make and model, 3,250 as pilot in command, 137 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 144° at 26 knots, gusting 35 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft broken - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.06 inHg - Observed at: PABE ## 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 20041119032349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041119032349A), Nov 19, 2004: Cessna U206F, Bethel, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The ATP certificated pilot failed to maintain directional control and stability while operating the subject aircraft in gusty wind conditions. (This… 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.