# NTSB ANC08CA123: Cessna 207, N6426H, Dillingham, AK, September 12, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 12, 2008, 15:35 local (23:35 UTC) - Place: Dillingham, AK - Coordinates: 59.044723, -158.505554 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.0447&lon=-158.5056&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 7 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 11, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68936 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08CA123 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68936/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08CA123 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate evaluation of weather and runway conditions, and his improper decision to depart downwind, on a wet gravel runway, resulting in an in-flight collision with terrain after takeoff. Factors contributing to the accident were a tailwind, and an uphill grade of the wet, gravel-covered runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: takeoff distance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025/cases.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was departing to the west, and uphill, from a private 2,400 foot-long, wet, rough and uneven gravel airstrip, with six passengers and baggage during an on-demand charter flight. In the pilot's written statement to the NTSB, he reported that at the time of the accident the airplane's gross weight was 10 pounds under the maximum gross weight. He wrote that during the takeoff roll, the wind suddenly switched to a tailwind, and the airplane failed to climb after it initially became airborne. He said that the airplane settled into an area of tundra-covered terrain about 100 yards west of the runway threshold, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. At the time of the accident the closest weather observation facility, about 2 miles southeast of the accident site, was reporting winds as 090 degrees at 9 knots, with gusts to 15 knots. ## Factual narrative The commercial pilot was departing to the west, and uphill, from a private 2,400 foot-long, wet, rough and uneven gravel airstrip, with six passengers and baggage during an on-demand charter flight. In the pilot's written statement to the NTSB, he reported that at the time of the accident the airplane's gross weight was 10 pounds under the maximum gross weight. He wrote that during the takeoff roll, the wind suddenly switched to a tailwind, and the airplane failed to climb after it initially became airborne. He said that the airplane settled into an area of tundra-covered terrain about 100 yards west of the runway threshold, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. At the time of the accident the closest weather observation facility, about 2 miles southeast of the accident site, was reporting winds as 090 degrees at 9 knots, with gusts to 15 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6426H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6426H-2013-04-29), registration cancelled 2013-04-29, S/N 20700521, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 207 - Registry model: [Cessna 207A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207a) (registry code 2073604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20700 - Airframe hours: 15833.2 - Engines: Teledyne Continental Motors IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Shannon's Air Taxi - Registered owner: Eric L. Shade - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 18, 2008 - Departed: Dillingham, AK - Destination: KEK, Ekwok, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: runway 27, 2,400 × 60 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 4, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 6,700 total, 6,000 in this make and model, 6,700 as pilot in command, 175 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 9 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.53 inHg - Observed at: DLG, 4 nm away ## 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 20080912857759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080912857759A), Sep 12, 2008: Cessna 207A, Dillingham, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot reported shortly after takeoff and while still in ground effect, he experienced a windshift and a subsequent tailwind. The aircraft settled to the… 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.