# NTSB ANC06LA119: Cessna U206G, N4975U, Whittier, AK, August 19, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 19, 2006, 10:10 local (18:10 UTC) - Place: Whittier, AK - Coordinates: 60.77111, -148.740005 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7711&lon=-148.7400&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 3 minor - Status: Completed, report May 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 64383 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC06LA119 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64383/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06LA119 ## Probable cause The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a collision with terrain while maneuvering to reverse direction in a pass. A factor contributing to the accident was clouds in the pass. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction - terrain condition - rising ## Analysis The airline transport certificated pilot was transporting three passengers in a float-equipped airplane through a mountain pass during a Title 14, CFR Part 135, on-demand air taxi flight. When the flight arrived in the area of the pass, the pilot noted that the weather conditions at his location included few clouds at 3,000 feet, and a visibility of seven miles. The weather conditions on the other side of the pass included a ceiling of 2,000 feet, and a visibility of two miles. The pilot had flown through the approximately 2.3 mile-long pass numerous times. He noted haze along the right side of the pass, and proceeded to fly along the left side of the pass, about 1,400 feet msl. He was maintaining visual contact with the ground, but after looking up, his view to the front became all white. He started a right turn to reverse course, but the airplane's floats collided with up sloping terrain on the left side of the pass. ## Factual narrative On August 19, 2006, about 1010 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna U206G airplane, N4975U, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain while maneuvering in a mountain pass, about 2 miles southwest of Whittier, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country air taxi flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Jim Air Inc., Anchorage, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot received serious injuries, and the three passengers received minor injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Lake Hood Seaplane Base, Anchorage, about 0940, and was en route to the Valdez Arm of Prince William Sound. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 25, the pilot reported that prior to departure he checked several sources for weather information along his planned route, which is one he has traveled numerous times. His information included a report from Whittier that included an overcast ceiling of 2,000 feet, and a visibility of 2 miles. The pilot said that when he got to Portage, Alaska, he slowed the airplane because of anticipated turbulence, and was about 1,600 feet msl. At the Portage Glacier, he looked into Portage Pass, which leads to Whittier, and noticed haze on the right side of the pass. He said the left side of the pass was clearer, and he proceeded into the pass about 1,400 feet msl, hugging the left side. The pilot indicated that he was maintaining visibility with the ground, but after looking up, his view to the front became all white. He started a right turn to reverse course, but the airplane's floats collided with up sloping terrain on the left side of the pass. Portage Pass is a mountain pass about 2.3 miles long, between Portage Lake, and Whittier. The elevation of Portage Lake is about 120 feet mean sea level (msl), and Whittier is located at sea level. The altitude of the center of the pass is about 700 feet msl. Mountain peaks on either side rise to over 3,000 feet msl. There are weather reporting facilities at Portage, which is about 3.2 miles from the accident site, and at Whittier. At 0953, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) at Portage was reporting, in part: Wind, 120 degrees (true) at 9 knots, gusts to 17 knots; visibility, 7 statute miles in light rain; clouds and sky condition, few at 3,000 feet, 3,900 feet overcast; temperature, 54 degrees F; dew point, 45 degrees F; altimeter, 29.78 inHg. At 0946, a METAR at Whittier was reporting, in part: Wind, 080 degrees (true) at 10 knots, gusts to 14 knots; visibility, 2 statute miles in light rain and mist; clouds and sky condition, 2,000 feet overcast; temperature, 50 degrees F; dew point, 48 degrees F; altimeter, 29.86 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4975U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4975U-2009-08-19), registration cancelled 2009-08-19, S/N U20605179, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna U206G - Registry model: [Cessna U206G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206g) (registry code 2073356) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U20605179 - Airframe hours: 14760 - Engines: Continental IO-550-F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Jim Air Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 1, 2006, 35 hours before - Departed: LAHD, Anchorage, AK - Destination: Valdez, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: serious; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 15,587 total, 9,050 in this make and model, 15,300 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 12 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,900 ft overcast - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 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 20060819017869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060819017869A), Aug 19, 2006: Cessna U206G, Whittier, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot stated that as he approached portage pass at 1400, he estimated the clouds were at 2000 ft and visibility of 2 miles. He said that as he… 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.