ANC08LA106

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 207A · Bethel, AK · August 18, 2008

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 18, 2008, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC)
Place
Bethel, AK
Injuries
3 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N9935MCessna 207AN7380UCessna 207A
Defining events
Taxi-to runway: Ground collisionStanding: Ground collision
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 11, 2009
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Alaska Regional Office
Parties
FAA, Anchorage Flight Standards District Office
Case key
68786

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot of the other airplane's excessive taxi speed while taxiing to the runway, and his failure to see the stopped airplane ahead of him in time to avoid a collision.

The pilot's excessive taxi speed while taxiing to the runway, and his failure to see the stopped airplane ahead of him in time to avoid a collision.

Findings · 6

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

N9935M · Cessna 207A

Performance/control parameters: surface speed/brakingAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operationCessna 207A: 1 caseAll aircraft: 238 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotCessna 207A: 11 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause

N7380U · Cessna 207A

Performance/control parameters: surface speed/brakingAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operationCessna 207A: 1 caseAll aircraft: 238 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · Pilot of other aircraftCessna 207A: 11 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraftPersonnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraftCessna 207A: 1 caseAll aircraft: 231 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

N9935M · Cessna 207A

N7380U · Cessna 207A

Analysis

Two airplanes of the same make and model and operated by the same air taxi operator were taxiing to the runway from the ramp area. Airplane "B" had stopped in the ramp area, when airplane "A" came from behind and struck airplane "B's" left wing with its right wing. Both airplanes were preparing to depart on Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 air taxi flights. The director of operations for the operator indicated that there were no mechanical problems with either airplane and that the pilot of airplane "A" was taxiing too fast for the conditions and didn't see the other airplane in time to stop. Both airplanes received substantial damage.

Two airplanes of the same make and model and operated by the same air taxi operator were taxiing to the runway from the ramp area. Airplane "B" had stopped in the ramp area, when airplane "A" came from behind and struck airplane "B's" left wing with its right wing. Both airplanes were preparing to depart on Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 air taxi flights. The director of operations for the operator indicated that there were no mechanical problems with either airplane and that the pilot of airplane "A" was taxiing too fast for the conditions and didn't see the other airplane in time to stop. Both airplanes received substantial damage.

Factual narrative

On August 18, 2008, about 1100 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 207A airplane, N9935M, collided with another Cessna 207A, N7380U, while taxiing on the ramp at the Bethel Airport, Bethel, Alaska. Both airplanes were operated as Title 14, CFR Part 135 flights by Flight Alaska, dba Yute Air, Anchorage, Alaska. Both airplanes sustained substantial damage, but neither the solo commercial pilot of N9935M, or the commercial pilot and the sole passenger of N7380U, were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and company VFR flight plans were in effect. N9935M was en route to Eek, Alaska as an on-demand air taxi, and N7380U was en route to Quinhagak, Alaska, as scheduled commuter Flight 510. According to the operator's director of operations, and the written statement of the pilot of N9935M, both airplanes were in the vicinity of the company hangar, when the front of the right wing of N9935M collided with the trailing edge of the left wing of N7380U. N9935M was taxiing for takeoff, and N7380U was stopped on the ramp, prior to taxiing for takeoff. The pilot of N9935M stated that he was taxing too fast, and didn't see the other airplane in time to avoid hitting it. The director of operations said the pilot of N7380U, was giving the passenger a pretakeoff briefing, and just caught a glimpse of N9935M as it collided with his airplane's left wing trailing edge. N9935M's damage was primarily on the leading edge of the right wing, requiring replacement of a rib and a section of the leading edge; damage to N7380U was primarily the left wing flap, and the left aileron, which required replacement.

On August 18, 2008, about 1100 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 207A airplane, N9935M, collided with another Cessna 207A, N7380U, while taxiing on the ramp at the Bethel Airport, Bethel, Alaska. Both airplanes were operated as Title 14, CFR Part 135 flights by Flight Alaska, dba Yute Air, Anchorage, Alaska. Both airplanes sustained substantial damage, but neither the solo commercial pilot of N9935M, or the commercial pilot and the sole passenger of N7380U, were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and company VFR flight plans were in effect. N9935M was en route to Eek, Alaska as an on-demand air taxi, and N7380U was en route to Quinhagak, Alaska, as scheduled commuter Flight 510. According to the operator's director of operations, and the written statement of the pilot of N9935M, both airplanes were in the vicinity of the company hangar, when the front of the right wing of N9935M collided with the trailing edge of the left wing of N7380U. N9935M was taxiing for takeoff, and N7380U was stopped on the ramp, prior to taxiing for takeoff. The pilot of N9935M stated that he was taxing too fast, and didn't see the other airplane in time to avoid hitting it. The director of operations said the pilot of N7380U, was giving the passenger a pretakeoff briefing, and just caught a glimpse of N9935M as it collided with his airplane's left wing trailing edge. N9935M's damage was primarily on the leading edge of the right wing, requiring replacement of a rib and a section of the leading edge; damage to N7380U was primarily the left wing flap, and the left aileron, which required replacement.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N9935M
Reported as
Cessna 207A
Category
Airplane
Serial number
20700751
Engine
Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Part 135
Operator
Flight Alaska, doing business as Yute Air
Registered owner
Bethel Leasing LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Unknown
Last inspection
Continuous airworthiness · July 29, 2008
Departed
PABE · Bethel, AK
Destination
EEK · Eek, AK
Flight plan
Company VFR
Airport
PABE · Bethel

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Registration
N7380U
Reported as
Cessna 207A
Category
Airplane
Serial number
20700428
Engine
Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Part 135
Operator
Flight Alaska, doing business as Yute Air
Registered owner
Bethel Leasing LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Unknown
Departed
PABE · Bethel, AK
Destination
AQH · Quinhagak, AK
Flight plan
Company VFR
Airport
PABE · Bethel

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N9935M
Age
30
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Flight hours
5,954 total · 3,322 in this make and model · 3,617 as pilot in command · 358 in the last 90 days · 341 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot, aircraft N7380U
Age
65
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Seat
Left
Flight hours
7,500 total · 6,000 in this make and model · 210 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Visibility
3 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Observed at
pabe

FAA reports on this event · 2

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.