ANC16LA032

During cruise flight through an area of mountainous terrain, the commercial pilot became geographically disoriented and selected the incorrect route through the mountains. Upon realizing it was the incorrect route, he initiated a steep climb while executing a 180° turn. During the steep climbing turn, the airplane inadvertently entered instrument meteorological conditions, and the airplane subsequently impacted an area of rocky, rising terrain. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

On June 17, 2016, about 1200 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 207 airplane, N91170, sustained substantial damage after impacting steep, rising terrain about 8 miles northwest of the Goodnews Airport, Goodnews Bay, Alaska. The airplane was registered to DIO Air, LLC, and operated by Renfro's Alaskan Adventures, Inc., Bethel, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) repositioning flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed at the accident location, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight departed about 1020 from the Quinhagak Airport (AQH), Quinhagak, Alaska, destined for Goodnews Airport (GNU). During an interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge on June 19, in Anchorage, Alaska, the pilot stated that after departing AQH, and as the flight progressed into an area of mountainous terrain, low clouds inhibited his ability to distinguish the correct route through the mountains from the incorrect route. When he discovered he had chosen the incorrect route, he was in an area that was too narrow and steep to safely turn around. In an effort to reduce his turning radius and avoid the rising terrain ahead, he initiated a steep climb while turning the airplane 180 degrees. During the steep climbing turn, the airplane entered IMC, and the airplane subsequently impacted an area of rock-covered rising terrain. He estimated the cloud ceilings to be about 800 feet mean sea level (msl) and his cruise altitude was about 700 feet msl before initiating the climbing turn. The closest weather reporting facility is Platinum Airport, about 14 southwest of the accident site. At 1156, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) from the Platinum Airport was reporting in part: wind from 210 degrees at 12 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; temperature 48 degrees F, dewpoint 45 degrees F; altimeter 29.85 inHg. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions of anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.