# NTSB ANC08LA032: Cessna 207, N1701U, Aniak, AK, January 16, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 16, 2008, 12:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Aniak, AK - Coordinates: 61.581665, -159.541671 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5817&lon=-159.5417&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 67391 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08LA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67391/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA032 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's inadvertent encounter with IMC conditions, and a whiteout during his attempted go-around from an emergency landing approach. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: whiteout](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035060): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause) - [Terrain: snowy/icy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause) - [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was returning from a remote village after a round robin flight of about 130 miles over a frozen and snow-covered river. He was in cruise flight about 500 feet agl, but then circled while holding between 6 or 7 miles east of his destination airport, awaiting a special VFR (SVFR) clearance. The weather condition in that area was about 1 mile visibility, with a ceiling of about 1,000 feet agl. After receiving his SVFR clearance, the pilot flew toward the airport, but the engine fuel pressure began fluctuating. The engine rpm began decreasing, along with the airplane's altitude. The pilot switched fuel tanks, selected full flaps, and prepared for a forced landing. He said the weather was near white-out conditions, but he could see the bank of the river. After switching fuel tanks from the left to the right tank, the engine power suddenly returned to full power. He applied forward flight control pressure to prevent the airplane from climbing too fast, but the airplane collided with the surface of the river. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings and fuselage. At the time of the accident, the ceiling at the airport was 600 feet obscured, with a visibility of 1/2 mile in snow. Neither the fuel status of the accident airplane, nor the mechanical condition of the engine, were verified by either the NTSB or FAA. ## Factual narrative On January 16, 2008, about 1215 Alaska Standard time, a Cessna 207 airplane, N1701U, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a snow and ice covered river following a partial loss of engine power, about 1 mile east of Aniak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country positioning flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Inland Aviation Services Inc., Aniak. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, received serious injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Crooked Creek Airport, Crooked Creek, Alaska, about 1130. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on January 16, the director of maintenance for the operator reported that the pilot received a special VFR (SVFR) clearance into the Aniak Class E airspace about 1153, and was following the Kuskokwim River from Crooked Creek to Aniak. About 1225, the pilot made radio contact with another airplane, and reported that he had crashed. At the time of the accident, the surface of the Kuskokwim River was frozen and covered by snow. In a telephone conversation with the NTSB IIC, on January 17, the pilot reported that he initially departed Aniak with full fuel tanks for Crooked Creek, which is about 65 miles from Aniak, along the Kuskokwim river. During the entire flight to and from Crooked Creek, the airplane had been flown between 45 to 60 minutes with the fuel selector on the left tank. The pilot said he was in cruise flight about 500 feet agl, but then circled while holding, about 6 or 7 miles east of Aniak, awaiting a special VFR (SVFR) clearance. The weather condition in that area was about 1 mile visibility, with a ceiling of about 1,000 feet agl. After receiving his SVFR clearance, the pilot proceeded toward Aniak, but the engine fuel pressure began fluctuating, about 3 miles from Aniak. The engine rpm began decreasing, along with his altitude. He switched the fuel selector from the left tank to the right, selected full flaps, and prepared for a forced landing. He said the weather was near white-out conditions, but he could see the bank of the river. After switching fuel tanks, the engine power suddenly returned to full power. He applied forward flight control pressure to prevent the airplane from climbing too fast, but the airplane collided with the surface of the river. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings and fuselage. The total distance along the Kusokwim River from Aniak, to Crooked Creek and back, was about 130 miles. At 1156, an automated weather report at Aniak was reporting, in part: Wind, 200 degrees (true) at 6 knots; visibility, 1 statute mile; clouds and sky condition, 600 feet broken, 1,800 feet broken, 12,000 feet overcast; temperature, 32 degrees F; dew point, 30 degrees F; altimeter, 29.77 inHg. At 1216, the weather at Aniak was reported as: Wind, 190 degrees (true) at 5 knots; visibility, 1/2 statute mile; clouds and sky condition, 600 feet overcast; temperature, 32 degrees F; dew point, 30 degrees F; altimeter, 29.79 inHg. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the director of maintenance for the operator, the ceiling was reported as 600 feet obscured, and the visibility was restricted by snow. No narrative description of the accident events was included in the accident report form. The fuel status of the airplane at the time of the accident, nor the mechanical condition of the engine, was verified by an NTSB investigator, or a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1701U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1701U-2015-05-20), registration cancelled 2015-05-20, S/N 20700301, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 207 - Registry model: [Cessna 207](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207) (registry code 2073602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20700301 - Airframe hours: 18448 - Engines: Continental IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Inland Aviation Services Inc. - Registered owner: Inland Holdings Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2007, 94 hours before - Departed: CJX, Crooked Creek, AK - Destination: PANI, Aniak, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: PANI, Aniak ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 9,455 total, 1,914 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 5 knots - Visibility: 0.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 600 ft - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: PANI, 1 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 20080116009939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080116009939A), Jan 16, 2008: Cessna 207, Aniak, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) While enroute to Aniak, AK from crooked creek, AK, the pilot reported losing engine power and crash landed on the river about a mile from the airport at… 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.