# NTSB ANC06LA017: Cessna TU206G, N5371U, Cordova, AK, January 18, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 18, 2006, 13:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Cordova, AK - Coordinates: 60.11639, -143.262496 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.1164&lon=-143.2625&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 63122 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC06LA017 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63122/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06LA017 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, and his delay in aborting the takeoff, which resulted an overrun and subsequent collision with an embankment. A factor contributing to the accident was the snow-covered airstrip. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was departing from a snow-covered airstrip on a Title 14 CFR Part 135 flight in a tundra tire/tricycle gear-equipped airplane. The airstrip was about 1,700 feet long, and while waiting for his client, the pilot said that 3 to 4 inches of snow fell in the area. Before departure, he removed snow from the wings, calculated a go/no-go position on the airstrip for liftoff, and began the takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the pilot said the airplane would not lift off the snow-covered surface, and he decided to abort the takeoff slightly beyond his predetermined go/no-go mark. The airplane departed off the left side of the airstrip, and collided with brush and an embankment. The airplane received damage to the propeller, engine cowling, and the right wing. In the optional portion of the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, the pilot wrote that his safety recommendation to prevent the accident was to "taxi back and forth on the runway to allow plane to accelerate faster." ## Factual narrative On January 18, 2006, about 1345 Alaska Standard time, a tundra tire/tricycle gear-equipped Cessna TU206G airplane, N5371U, sustained substantial damage when the right wing collided with the ground during an aborted takeoff/overrun from a remote airstrip, about 70 miles east of Cordova, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country on-demand air taxi flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Copper River Air Taxi, Cordova, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect for the intended flight to Cordova. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on January 19, the pilot reported that he landed at the airstrip about 1145 and waited for his client. The pilot said the gravel surfaced airstrip was covered by about 2 inches of snow. The airstrip is oriented northeast/southwest, and is about 1,700 feet long, and about 100 feet wide. While waiting, the pilot said that 3 to 4 inches of snow fell in the area. Before departure, he removed snow from the wings, calculated a go/no-go position on the airstrip for liftoff, and began the takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the pilot said the airplane would not lift off the snow-covered surface, and he decided to abort the takeoff slightly beyond his predetermined go/no-go mark. The airplane departed off the left side of the airstrip as the pilot attempted to avoid a pond, and collided with brush and an embankment. The airplane received damage to the propeller, engine cowling, and the right wing. In the optional portion of the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, the pilot wrote that his safety recommendation to prevent the accident was to "taxi back and forth on the runway to allow plane to accelerate faster." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5371U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5371U-2008-07-22), registration cancelled 2008-07-22, S/N U20605252, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna TU206G - Registry model: [Cessna TU206G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-tu206g) (registry code 2073357) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U20605252 - Airframe hours: 8339 - Engines: Continental IO-520F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Copper River Air Taxi - Registered owner: Ben Hancock - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 1, 2006, 10 hours before - Departed: Cordova, AK - Destination: PACV, Cordova, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 6,843 total, 3,842 in this make and model, 6,743 as pilot in command, 143 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 5 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken - Temperature: 30 °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 20060118001049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060118001049A), Jan 18, 2006: Cessna TU206G, Cordova, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot attempted takeoff from a 1700 foot airstrip covered with 3-4 inches of snow. Pilot decided to abort the takeoff and slid of the side of the… ## Other investigations on N5371U (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 ANC01LA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA096), Jul 30, 2001: Cessna U206 (N5371U), Yakutat, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from high vegetation during the takeoff roll. - [NTSB ANC95LA121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA121), Jul 29, 1995: Cessna 206G (N5371U), Port Alsworth, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE CROSSWIND CONDITION, WHICH RESULTED IN A FAILURE TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT. THE CROSSWIND AND PROXIMITY OF TREES WERE RELATED FACTORS. 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.