# NTSB ANC05LA085: Cessna U206F, N51205, Skwentna, AK, June 13, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 12, 2005, 17:30 local (Jun 13, 2005, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Skwentna, AK - Coordinates: 61.877498, -151.510559 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.8775&lon=-151.5106&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 61681 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05LA085 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61681/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05LA085 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper loading of externally carried lumber that caught fire due to exposure to hot exhaust gases during cruise flight, which resulted in an emergency descent/landing and subsequent collision with a gravel bar. A factor contributing to the accident was the operator's lack of FAA approval for the external lumber rack that was installed under the belly of the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, cruise - miscellaneous,airframe - fire (cause) - loading of cargo - improper, pilot in command (cause) - towing/advertising/external load equipment - unapproved (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - sand bar ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was on a 14 CFR Part 135 air taxi cargo flight transporting a load of plywood in an external rack that was attached to the belly of the fixed tricycle gear-equipped airplane. During cruise flight at 1,500 feet msl, he noticed the smell of smoke in the cockpit. He flew towards a river as flames entered the cabin of the airplane, and made an emergency landing on a gravel bar. He jumped from the airplane during the landing roll, and the airplane continued to roll until it struck a log and nosed over, with the fire still burning. Passing aircraft saw smoke in the area, and then spotted the airplane and the pilot in the river outside of the airplane. A helicopter pilot was nearby and responded to the scene. The pilot was airlifted to a local hospital by the helicopter pilot. According to the FAA, no records were found that the operator had an external load authorization. No records were found indicating that the airplane had a restricted category authorization for external loads, nor any authorization for installation of the external lumber rack. ## Factual narrative On June 12, 2005, about 1730 Alaska daylight time, a fixed tricycle gear-equipped Cessna U206F airplane, N51205, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight and postcrash fire, after an emergency landing on a remote gravel bar, about 11 miles, south-southwest of Skwentna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand cargo flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot, doing business as Alaska Airborne Adventures, Wasilla, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight departed the Willow Airport, Willow, Alaska, about 1715, en route to the Hayes River, Alaska, and no flight plan was filed, nor was one required. The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Alaska Regional Operations Center received notification from a remote lodge operator that the accident airplane was burning on a gravel bar in the Skwentna River. Passing aircraft initially saw smoke in the area, and then spotted the airplane and a single occupant in the river outside of the airplane. The operator of a helicopter who was flying in the area, overheard radio conversations about the accident and responded to the scene. The pilot was airlifted to a local hospital by the helicopter pilot. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on June 13, the lodge owner and the helicopter pilot reported that the airplane was carrying an external load of plywood under the belly of the airplane. During cruise flight, the plywood caught fire, and the pilot made an emergency landing on a gravel bar. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, he reported that he was transporting 500 pounds of lumber inside the airplane. He was transporting 200 pounds of 4 feet, by 8 feet, 1/2 inch-thick plywood in a external lumber rack, attached to the belly of the airplane. During cruise flight at 1,500 feet msl, the pilot indicated he noticed the smell of smoke in the cockpit. He flew toward the Skwentna River as flames entered the cabin of the airplane, and made an emergency landing on a gravel bar. He jumped out of the airplane during the landing roll, and the airplane continued to roll until it hit a log and nosed over, with the fire still burning. According to FAA personnel from the Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), Anchorage, Alaska, the FAA had no records that the operator had any external load authorization. No records were found indicating that the airplane had a restricted category authorization for external loads, nor any authorization for installation of the external lumber rack. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51205](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51205-2013-03-25), registration cancelled 2013-03-25, S/N U20601979, built 1973 (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: U20601979 - Airframe hours: 13785 - Engines: Continental IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Mark W. Bills, doing business as Alaska Airborne Adventures - Registered owner: Mark W. Bills II - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2004, 95 hours before - Departed: PAUO, Willow, AK - Destination: Skwentna, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 8,250 total, 2,850 in this make and model, 8,200 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 5 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.29 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 20050612015089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050612015089A), Jun 12, 2005: Cessna U206F, Skwentna, AK, Destroyed. (-23) The aircraft had an external load of lumber attached to the aircraft belly. It is believed at this time that the wood caught fire while in flight. The… ## Other investigations on N51205 (2) 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 ANC88LA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC88LA048), Apr 19, 1988: Cessna 206 (N51205), Cantwell, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC87LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC87LA064), Apr 30, 1987: Cessna 206 (N51205), Pt. Mackenzie, AK, substantial damage 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.