# NTSB ANC11LA103: Cessna U206G, N1779R, Beluga, AK, September 15, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 15, 2011, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Beluga, AK
- Coordinates: 55.919803, -159.490875 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.9198&lon=-159.4909&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 21, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA FSDO-03
- NTSB case key (mKey): 81804
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11LA103
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81804/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81804
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11LA103

## Probable cause

The total loss of engine power for an undetermined reason.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Inoperative (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md)
- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined; cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the on-demand passenger flight was taking off from a lake in a float-equipped, single-engine airplane. During takeoff/initial climb, the engine lost all power. There was no suitable place to land, and the pilot concentrated on landing the airplane straight ahead, as slow as possible. During the subsequent emergency landing, the airplane collided with terrain in a boggy area, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The pilot said that, prior to takeoff, the airplane had been in a left step turn and that the left fuel tank had been selected for the takeoff. After the airplane was recovered, with the engine still attached to the fuselage, a new propeller installed, and a clean fuel supply provided, the engine was test run. The engine was run at varying rpms, and a magneto check was completed. No engine anomalies were found.

## Factual narrative

On September 15, 2011, about 1230 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna U206G airplane, N1779R, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain, following a loss of engine power during takeoff initial climb, about 33 miles northwest of Beluga, Alaska. The airplane was operated by Regal Air, Anchorage, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) passenger flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal regulations Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airline transport pilot and the two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight was bound for Anchorage. In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) dated September 16, the pilot reported that after crossing the departure end of the lake, about 200 feet above ground level, the airplane's engine sputtered and died. He said he concentrated on landing the airplane straight ahead, as slow as possible. The airplane collided with terrain in a boggy area, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. During a telephone conversation with the IIC on September 17, the pilot said prior to takeoff the airplane had been in a left step turn, and that the left fuel tank had been selected for takeoff. The airplane was recovered to an aviation repair facility near Wasilla, Alaska, and on October 7, with the engine still attached to the fuselage, a new propeller installed, and a clean fuel supply provided, the engine was test run. The engine was run at varying rpm, and a magneto check was completed. No engine anomalies were found.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1779R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1779R-2013-07-12), registration cancelled 2013-07-12, S/N U20604379, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA U206G
- Registry model: [Cessna U206G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206g) (registry code 2073356) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: U20604379
- Airframe hours: 15152
- Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Alaska Skyways Inc., doing business as Regal Air
- Registered owner: Laughlin Acquisitions LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 14, 2011
- Departed: Beluga, AK
- Destination: PALH, Anchorage, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 19, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 4,611 total, 211 in this make and model, 4,103 as pilot in command, 337 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast

## 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 20110915021729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110915021729A), Sep 15, 2011: Cessna U206G, Skwentna, AK, Substantial damage. After departure from Judd Lake, at approximately 150-200 feet AGL, the engine quit. The aircraft cleared the trees and landed in a marsh open area in an…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 26, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81804. 2.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366936&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366937&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 3, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366938&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-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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