# NTSB ANC12LA002: Cessna 207A, N6314H, Kwigillingok, AK, November 7, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 7, 2011, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Kwigillingok, AK
- Coordinates: 59.850887, -154.5596 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.8509&lon=-154.5596&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 26, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Operations
- NTSB case key (mKey): 82065
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12LA002
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82065/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82065
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12LA002

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff when he realized the airplane could not attain sufficient takeoff and climb performance and his improper decision to depart from an airport where night operations were prohibited.

## Findings

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

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md)
- [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/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 207A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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 control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot departed on a scheduled commuter flight at night from an unlit, rough and uneven snow-covered runway with five passengers and baggage. During the takeoff roll, the airplane bounced twice and became airborne, but it failed to climb. As the airplane neared the departure end of the runway, it began to veer to the left, and the pilot applied full right aileron, but the airplane continued to the left as it passed over the runway threshold. The airplane subsequently settled into an area of snow and tundra-covered terrain about 100 yards south of the runway threshold and nosed over. Official sunset on the day of the accident was 48 minutes before the accident, and the end of civil twilight was one minute before the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Airport/Facility Directory, Alaska Supplement listing for the airport, includes the following notation: "Airport Remarks - Unattended. Night operations prohibited, except rotary wing aircraft. Runway condition not monitored, recommend visual inspection prior to using. Safety areas eroded and soft. Windsock unreliable." A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Given the lack of mechanical deficiencies with the airplane's engine or flight controls, it is likely the pilot failed to maintain control during the takeoff roll and initial climb after takeoff.

## Factual narrative

On November 7, 2011, about 1830 Alaska standard time (AST), a Cessna 207 airplane, N6314H, sustained substantial damage during a collision with snow-covered terrain following a loss of control shortly after takeoff from Runway 15 at the Kwigillingok Airport, Kwigillingok, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as Flight 166, by Hageland Aviation Services, Inc., dba ERA Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) scheduled commuter flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135. Of the six people aboard, the commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured, and three passengers sustained minor injuries. Night, visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. Flight 166 originated in Bethel, Alaska, and it had completed scheduled stops in Kongiganak, Alaska, and Kwigillingok. The accident occurred while returning to Bethel, the flight's final destination for the day. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on November 8, the pilot reported that before departing on Runway 15, an unlighted, rough and uneven 1,840 foot-long, by 30 foot-wide snow-covered runway, he checked the airport windsock, and noted that a correction for a 5 to 10 knot left quartering crosswind would be required. He said that during the takeoff roll, the airplane bounced twice and became airborne, but it failed to climb. As the airplane neared the departure end of the runway, it began to veer to the left. The pilot said he applied full right aileron to correct the veer, but the airplane continued to the left as it passed over the runway threshold. He said that once he knew the airplane was not going to climb, he lowered the flaps in an attempt to cushion the off-airport landing. The airplane subsequently settled into an area of snow, and tundra-covered terrain, about 100 yards south of the runway threshold, and nosed over. Sunset on the day of the accident was 1742; the end of civil twilight was 1829. The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Airport/Facility Directory, Alaska Supplement listing for the Kwigillingok Airport, includes the following notation: "Airport Remarks - Unattended. Night operations prohibited, except rotary wing aircraft. Runway condition not monitored, recommend visual inspection prior to using. Safety areas eroded and soft. Windsock unreliable." In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the operator, the pilot's total aeronautical experience was listed as 1,833 hours, with 349 hours in the accident airplane make and model. The report noted that in the preceding 90 and 30 days prior to the accident, the pilot accrued a total of 390 hours and 107 hours. According to the operator's chief pilot, the estimated gross weight of the airplane at takeoff was 3,680 pounds, or approximately 120 pounds below the maximum takeoff gross weight of 3,800pounds. The closest weather reporting facility was the Kipnuk Airport, Kipnuk, Alaska, about 26 miles west of the accident site. At 1856, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting, in part: Wind, 010 degrees (true) at 4 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles.; clouds and sky condition, clear; temperature, 19 degrees F; dew point, 18 degrees F; altimeter, 30.14 inches Hg. A pilot flying a Cessna 208 that departed about 30 minutes before the accident airplane departed, reported wind to be from the east-southeast, at 10 knots, but favoring Runway 15. The wreckage was recovered from the accident site and transported to Alaska Claims Services, Inc., in Wasilla, Alaska. On January 26, 2012, a wreckage examination and layout was done under the direction of the NTSB IIC. Also present were air safety investigators from Continental Motors, Cessna Aircraft, the FAA, and the director of safety for Hageland Aviation Services. There were no preaccident mechanical problems discovered with the airplane's engine or flight controls.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6314H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6314H-2012-12-14), registration cancelled 2012-12-14, S/N 20700478, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 207A
- Registry model: [Cessna 207A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207a) (registry code 2073604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20700478
- Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Hageland Aviation Services, doing business as Era Alaska
- Registered owner: Icecap LLC Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: GGV, Kwigillingok, AK
- Destination: BET, Bethel, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: GGV, Kwigillingok, runway 15, 1,840 × 30 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 1,833 total, 349 in this make and model, 349 as pilot in command, 390 in the last 90 days, 107 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 10° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 19 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: PAKI, 26 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 20111107030069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111107030069A), Nov 7, 2011: Cessna 207A, Kwigillingok, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot took off from runway 15 at Kwigillingok and experienced a left bank that was not recoverable. Aircraft was airborne briefly before the left wing…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 27, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82065. 1.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 787 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372787&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372789&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF
- Estimated Gross Weight Calculations (item 3, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372790&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Estimated%20Gross%20Weight%20Calculations-Redacted.PDF
- Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 4, .PDF, 328 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372791&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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