# NTSB ANC16LA032: Cessna 207, N91170, Goodnews Bay, AK, June 17, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 17, 2016, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Goodnews Bay, AK - Coordinates: 59.23611, -161.716949 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.2361&lon=-161.7169&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA, TEXTRON AVIATION, CONTINENTAL MOTORS - NTSB case key (mKey): 93416 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC16LA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93416/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93416 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC16LA032 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to select the correct route through the mountains as a result of geographic disorientation, and his subsequent visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in collision with terrain. ## 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) - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: clouds](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause) ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401) - [Enroute: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N91170](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N91170), registered now, S/N 20700101, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 207 - Registry model: [Cessna 207](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207) (registry code 2073602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20700101 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 15089.1 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Renfros Alaskan Adventures Inc - Registered owner: Dio Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 23, 2016, 35 hours before - Departed: AQH, QUINHAGAK, AK - Destination: GNU, Goodnews Bay, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: GNU, Goodnews - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 16, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,150 total, 78 in this make and model, 943 as pilot in command, 141 in the last 90 days, 64 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: PAPM, 14 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 20160617009389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160617009389A), Jun 17, 2016: Cessna 207, Goodnews Bay, AK, Substantial damage. On June 17, 2016 at about 1018 ast (1818 gmt), Cessna 207 N91170 departed quinhagak, AK (aqh) for Goodnews, AK (gnu). After departing quinhagak, the airplane… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 19, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93416. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453376&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Interview Summary (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453377&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 3, .PDF, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453378&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Photos (item 4, .PDF, 3 photos, 368 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453379&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.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.