# NTSB ANC09LA012: Cessna 207, N36CF, Napaskiak, AK, November 14, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 14, 2008, 17:10 local (21:10 UTC) - Place: Napaskiak, AK - Coordinates: 60.703056, -161.778335 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7031&lon=-161.7783&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 12, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 69454 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09LA012 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69454/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09LA012 ## Probable cause The pilot's continued flight into adverse weather and icing conditions, and his failure to maintain sufficient airspeed to avoid a stall, resulting in a loss of control and in-flight collision with terrain while on an approach to land. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 207, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2073602), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 207, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073602), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 207, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md?model=2073602), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md) - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 207, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000/cases.md?model=2073602), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210); cases with it: [Cessna 207, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md?model=2073602), [All aircraft, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 207, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2073602), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Approach: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 207, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073602), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [Cessna 207, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md?model=2073602), [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md) ## Analysis Prior to the accident flight, the operator reported that numerous flights from their base had been canceled or delayed due to poor weather earlier in the day. The weather improved in the afternoon, and the pilot departed on a commuter flight for his first destination, but did not land because of low visibility. The pilot continued to his second destination, and encountered light icing conditions while en route. After landing at his second stop, he deiced the airplane. The pilot then departed on the accident flight to return to his base, where the weather was reported as a ceiling of 500 feet overcast, with a visibility of 5 miles. After departure, the weather at the destination deteriorated, and the pilot decided to divert to an airport about 5 miles from his base. While maneuvering over the airport for landing, the pilot began a descending left turn toward the approach end of runway. The airplane stalled and mushed to the ground, about 250 feet short of the runway threshold. A postcrash fire erupted as the pilot and passenger were exiting the airplane. The pilot reported that when he arrived over the accident airport, the airplane had accumulated some ice, he was about 200 feet agl, and the visibility was about 1 mile. At the time of the accident, the destination airport was reporting, in part, a visibility of 3/4 statute mile in mist, 500 feet broken, with a temperature and dew point of 21 degrees F. ## Factual narrative On November 14, 2008, about 1710 Alaska Standard time, a Cessna 207 airplane, N36CF, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain while maneuvering for landing at Napaskiak, Alaska. The airplane was then consumed by a postcrash fire. The airplane was being operated as Flight 555 by Flight Alaska, dba Yute Air Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) commuter flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The commercial pilot received minor injuries, and the sole passenger was not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Quinhagak Airport, Quinhagak, Alaska, about 1625, and was en route to Bethel, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on November 17, the director of operations for the operator reported that numerous flights from Bethel had been canceled or delayed due to poor weather earlier in the day. The weather improved in the afternoon with a ceiling of about 1,500 feet, and a visibility of 7 miles, and the pilot departed Bethel at 1452 for his first destination, Eek, Alaska. After departure, the pilot decided not to land at his first destination because of low visibility, and continued to Quinhagak. The pilot encountered light icing conditions while en route, and deiced the airplane after landing at Quinhagak. The pilot departed Quinhagak with one passenger about 1625, and told the director of operations that the Bethel Airport was reporting a ceiling of 500 feet overcast, with a visibility of 5 miles. After departure, the weather at Bethel deteriorated, and the pilot decided to land at Napaskiak. While maneuvering over the Napaskiak Airport, the pilot began a descending left turn toward the approach end of runway 02. The airplane stalled and mushed to the ground, about 250 feet short of the runway threshold. It collided with tall brush and the ground, and a postcrash fire erupted as the pilot and passenger were exiting the airplane. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB IIC on November 17, the pilot reported that when he arrived over the airport at Napaskiak, he was about 200 feet agl, and the visibility was about 1 mile. He indicated that the airplane had accumulated some ice. He said he began a left turn for the runway, but the left wing stalled, and the airplane mushed into the ground. The closest weather reporting facility is Bethel, which is located about 5 miles northwest of the accident. At 1705, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) was reporting, in part: Wind, 190 degrees (true) at 8 knots; visibility, 3/4 statute mile in mist; clouds and sky condition, 500 feet broken, 1,600 feet broken, 2,900 feet overcast; temperature, 21 degrees F; dew point, 21 degrees F; altimeter, 29.79 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N36CF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N36CF-2012-05-07), registration cancelled 2012-05-07, S/N 20700269, built 1974 (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: 20700269 - Airframe hours: 32600 - Engines: Continental IO-520F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Flight Alaska, doing business as Yute Air Alaska - Registered owner: Bethel Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 5, 2008, 19 hours before - Departed: PAQH, Quinhagak, AK - Destination: PAPK, Napaskiak, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: PAPK, Napaskiak ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 29, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 3,481 total, 836 in this make and model, 2,220 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 73 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk - Wind: 180° at 8 knots - Visibility: 0.75 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 500 ft broken - Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: PABE, 5 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 20081114857439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081114857439A), Nov 14, 2008: Cessna 207, Napaskiak, AK, Destroyed. The PIC was enroute to (eek) but weather was below minimum. He then diverted to bethel. After the diversion he stopped at quinhagak (aqh) picked up a passenger… ## Other investigations on N36CF (3) 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 ANC05LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05LA041), Feb 16, 2005: Cessna 207 (N36CF), Kipnuk, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in a departure from the runway and collision with a snow bank. A factor contributing to the… - [NTSB ANC99LA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA153), Sep 17, 1999: Cessna 207 (N36CF), Bethel, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain a visual lookout for a parked airplane during taxi. - [NTSB ANC94LA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA022), Dec 3, 1993: Cessna 207 (N36CF), Tuntutuliak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS AND THE SNOW BERM ALONG THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. 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.