# NTSB ANC10LA083: Cessna 207A, N9942M, Tuluksak, AK, September 4, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 3, 2010, 18:30 local (Sep 4, 2010, 02:30 UTC) - Place: Tuluksak, AK - Coordinates: 61.096668, -160.968338 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.0967&lon=-160.9683&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 11, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 77235 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC10LA083 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77235/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77235 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10LA083 ## Probable cause The pilot's delayed application of full power during a soft/wet field takeoff, resulting in a collision with trees during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: wet surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md) - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [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) ## Analysis The director of operations for the operator stated that soft field conditions and standing water on the runway slowed the airplane during the takeoff roll. The airplane did not lift off in time to clear trees at the end of the runway and sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage when it collided with the trees. The pilot reported that he used partial power at the beginning of the takeoff roll to avoid hitting standing water on the runway with full power. After passing most of the water, he applied full power, but the airplane did not accelerate like he thought it would. He recalled the airplane being in a nose-high attitude and the main wheels bouncing several times before the airplane impacted the trees at the end of the runway. ## Factual narrative On September 3, 2010, about 1830 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 207A airplane sustained substantial damage during a collision with trees while taking off at the Tuluksak Airport, Tuluksak, Alaska. The airplane was operated by Grant Aviation Inc., Anchorage, Alaska, as a visual flight rules on-demand passenger flight under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airline transport pilot received serious injuries, and the two passengers received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on September 4, the director of operations for the operator said it appeared that soft field conditions and standing water on the runway prevented the airplane from accelerating fast enough to lift off in time to clear trees at the end of the runway. He said the airplane came to rest off the end of the runway in the trees, and sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. In a written statement to the NTSB dated September 10, the pilot wrote that he did not apply full power at the beginning of the takeoff roll in order to avoid hitting standing water on the runway at full power. He said he applied full power after passing the puddles, but the airplane did not accelerate as he thought it would. He said he recalled the nose of the airplane being in a nose-high attitude, and the main wheels bouncing several times before the airplane impacted trees at the end of the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9942M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9942M), registered now, S/N 20700756, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 207A - Registry model: [Cessna 207A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207a) (registry code 2073605) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520-F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-f) (registry code 17237, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20700756 - Airframe hours: 29550 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Grant Aviation Inc, doing business as Grant Aviation - Registered owner: Alaska Aircraft Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, August 10, 2010 - Departed: TLT, Tuluksak, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: TLT, Tuluksak, runway 20, 2,461 × 30 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: serious; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 26, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 4,545 total, 245 in this make and model, 4,365 as pilot in command, 188 in the last 90 days, 83 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 94° at 8 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.57 inHg - Observed at: PABE, 31 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 20100903047499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100903047499A), Sep 3, 2010: Cessna 207A, Tuluksak, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted to takeoff from a 2,400 foot gravel strip that was wet and muddy with puddles of standing water. The flaps were set from 25 to 30 degrees and… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 22, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77235. 464 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 464 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40343466&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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. --- 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.