# NTSB ANC22LA022: Cessna U206F, N1853Q, Newhalen, AK, March 5, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 5, 2022, 12:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Newhalen, AK - Coordinates: 59.648403, -154.98516 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.6484&lon=-154.9852&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 4 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 104735 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC22LA022 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104735/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104735 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA022 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to continue visual flight into an area of instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the pilot experiencing a loss of visual reference and subsequent controlled flight into terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna U206F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2073333), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: whiteout](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035060): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna U206F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035060/cases.md?model=2073333), [All aircraft, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035060/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna U206F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2073333), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna U206F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2073333), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220); cases with it: [Cessna U206F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=2073333), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna U206F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=2073333), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna U206F, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073333), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The operator reported that the pilot had diverted to an alternate airport due to weather. As the flight approached the alternate airport, the weather had deteriorated, and the pilot requested a Special VFR clearance. The flight continued to follow the lake shoreline and the pilot recalled circling once while waiting for the clearance. Prior to reaching “the mouth of the river”, the pilot made the decision to divert to another alternate airport, due to the visibility getting worse as they approached the airport. As the pilot began to make an approximate 20° right hand turn over the frozen, snow-covered lake, he noticed the airplane was losing altitude and remembers increasing power and pitch, around this point he “switched to instruments”. The passenger recalled looking to his right and remarked it was like looking at a “white sheet of paper” with the sky blending with the frozen lake. Moments later, the airplane impacted the snow-covered ice while in the turn to the right. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The operator reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1853Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1853Q), registered now, S/N U20602943, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA U206F - Registry model: [Cessna U206F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206f) (registry code 2073333) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U20602943 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 9139.41 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-520F 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Send North - Registered owner: Send North - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 14, 2021 - Departed: 9Z8, Levelock, AK - Destination: ILI, Port Alsworth, AK - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, waiver time limited special; last flight review May 3, 2021; seat: left; flight hours: 620 total, 219 in this make and model, 565 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 4 knots - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PAIL, 6 nm away - METAR: PAIL 052209Z 24004KT 1SM -SN BR VV015 00/00 A3000 RMK A02 P0001 T00000000 ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 22, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104735. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13618137&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident pictures (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13617632&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Pictures-Rel.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.