# NTSB ANC10LA019: Cessna 208B, N207DR, Kwigillingok, AK, February 17, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 17, 2010, 16:57 local (20:57 UTC)
- Place: Kwigillingok, AK
- Coordinates: 59.876388, -163.168609 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.8764&lon=-163.1686&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 8 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 12, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA ANC FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 75399
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC10LA019
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75399/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75399
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10LA019

## Probable cause

The pilot's decision to take off with ice-contaminated wings in freezing rain and mist, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

## 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 208B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md)
- [Wing structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035700): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035700/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035700/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Passengers reported that prior to departing on the accident flight they observed ice on the wings and described the weather as foggy, with freezing rain. Shortly after takeoff, at an estimated 200 feet above the ground, the pilot reported a series of power fluctuations, coinciding with a loss of altitude. The pilot stated that he engaged the emergency power lever, and that power was restored, but not before the airplane collided with a frozen lake, damaging the right wing. The airplane subsequently became airborne, and the pilot elected to fly to another village to land. A postaccident inspection disclosed no mechanical anomalies with the engine or its accessories, and the airplane was flown to its base after the wing was repaired without any engine problems noted. A weather study by a Safety Board meteorologist determined that the area was subject to light snow showers, freezing fog and mist, and surface temperatures below freezing, all conducive to wing/airframe icing. During an interview with Federal Aviation Administration inspectors, the pilot acknowledged seeing “a trace of ice” on the wings. The limitations section of the airplane's flight manual supplement "Known Icing Equipment," states, in part: "Takeoff is prohibited with any frost, ice, snow, or slush adhering to the wings, horizontal stabilizer, vertical stabilizer, control surfaces, proper blades, or engine inlets." The limitations section also includes the following: "WARNING, EVEN SMALL AMOUNTS OF FROST, ICE, SNOW OR SLUSH ON THE WING MAY ADVERSELY CHANGE LIFT AND DRAG. FAILURE TO REMOVE THESE CONTAMINANTS WILL DEGRADE AIRPLANE PERFORMANCE AND MAY PREVENT A SAFE TAKEOFF AND CLIMBOUT."

## Factual narrative

On February 17, 2010, at 1657 Alaska standard time, a Cessna 208B, N207DR, sustained substantial damage during impact with terrain following takeoff from Kwigillingok Airport (GGV), Kwigillingok, Alaska. The airline transport pilot and his seven passengers were not injured. Grant Aviation, Anchorage, Alaska, was operating the aircraft under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was originating at the time of the accident. The intended destination was Kipnuk, Alaska, and a company flight plan had been filed. The pilot said that the takeoff was normal, but at 200 feet above the ground and in a turn, he observed a reduction in power. He moved the emergency fuel control lever forward, and power was restored. Before the sink rate could be reversed, the airplane impacted the surface of a frozen lake, and 5 feet of the outboard right wing was bent up. The aileron was not damaged. For safety reasons, the pilot chose to fly straight ahead for 8 miles to Kongiganak, Alaska, where the flight landed without further difficulty. The operator's maintenance personnel inspected the engine and airframe, and determined that the right wing required a major repair to restore it to an airworthy condition. After a field repair of the right wing by the operator, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted a ferry permit for a one time flight from Kongiganak to Anchorage. The operator found no discrepancies with the engine, and it operated normally during the ferry flight. The pilot reported to a FAA inspector that the cloud condition was 500 feet overcast with 2.5 miles visibility in light snow. There was a light wind from the north at approximately 3 to 5 knots. When the inspector asked the pilot if the airplane had ice on it when it departed Kwigillingok, he stated that there was a "trace" of ice on the wings. When interviewed by the FAA inspector, passengers made the following statements: 1. "There was freezing rain." 2. "The plane was iced up and when it took off it stalled." 3. "The weather was icing rain….There was some ice on the wings before they took off from Kwigillingok." There was no weather reporting facility at Kwigillingok. The closest weather reporting station was at Kipnuk, Alaska, about 26 nautical miles west of the accident site. At 1656, the reported conditions were: wind 050 degrees at 7 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; cloud condition, broken at 400 feet, overcast at 3,300 feet; temperature 23 degrees Fahrenheit; dew point 23 degrees Fahrenheit; altimeter setting 29.67 inches of Mercury. The pilot told the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) investigator-in-charge that the cloud condition was an indefinite ceiling at 500 to 600 feet with light snow, and the temperature was 30 degrees Fahrenheit. An NTSB meteorologist did a weather study and found that the area was subject to light snow showers, freezing fog and mist, and ground temperatureswere below freezing. The limitations section of the Cessna 208B flight manual supplement "Known Icing Equipment," states, in part: "Takeoff is prohibited with any frost, ice, snow, or slush adhering to the wings, horizontal stabilizer, vertical stabilizer, control surfaces, proper blades, or engine inlets." The limitations section also includes the following: "WARNING, EVEN SMALL AMOUNTS OF FROST, ICE, SNOW OR SLUSH ON THE WING MAY ADVERSELY CHANGE LIFT AND DRAG. FAILURE TO REMOVE THESE CONTAMINANTS WILL DEGRADE AIRPLANE PERFORMANCE AND MAY PREVENT A SAFE TAKEOFF AND CLIMBOUT."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N207DR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N207DR-2013-06-24), registration cancelled 2013-06-24, S/N 208B0859, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 208B
- Registry model: [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b) (registry code 2073701) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-114) (registry code 52256, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 208B0859
- Airframe hours: 6994
- Engines: P&W CANADA PT6A-114 600 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Grant Aviation
- Registered owner: Desert Rose Aviaiton LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, February 11, 2010, 49 hours before
- Departed: GGV, Kwigillingok, AK
- Destination: AKI, Kipnuk, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: GGV, Kwigillingok Airport, runway 33, 2,510 × 60 ft, ice

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 15, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 30,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 29,500 as pilot in command, 164 in the last 90 days, 126 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 23 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 29.67 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 20100217027739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100217027739A), Feb 17, 2010: Cessna 208B, Kwigillingok, AK, Substantial damage. The aircraft was departing with freezing rain. At approximately 200FT., the aircraft settleed as the right wing contacted the ground and the aircraft bounced…

## Other investigations on N207DR (1)

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 ANC11FA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11FA091), Sep 2, 2011: Cessna 208B (N207DR), Nightmute, AK, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot of the other airplane to maintain adequate clearance while performing an unexpected and unannounced abrupt maneuver, resulting in a midair collision between the two airplanes.

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 5, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75399. 1.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 492 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337792&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 463 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337793&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF
- Meteorological Specialist - Weather Study (item 3, .PDF, 540 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337801&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Meteorological%20Specialist%20-%20Weather%20Study-Master.PDF
- Sun and Moon Information (item 4, .PDF, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337794&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Sun%20and%20Moon%20Information-Master.PDF
- Training Records (item 5, .PDF, 192 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337799&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Training%20Records-Redacted.PDF

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.

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