- Date
- February 2, 2023, 13:29 local (22:29 UTC)
- Place
- Newtok, AK · runway 33
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N9996MCessna 207
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20230202001309A
- Case key
- 106690
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing with a crosswind on an ice-covered runway, resulting in a loss of control and subsequent impact with a snowbank. A factor was the check airman’s inadequate supervision.
Findings · 5
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot, seated in the left seat, reported that the operator’s chief pilot/check airman, seated in the right seat, was conducting an operating experience (OE) flight during a CFR Part 135 cargo flight to a remote Alaskan village. The pilot said that her approach to Runway 33, a 35-foot wide, 2,200 ft long, ice-covered runway, required a correction for a strong right crosswind. She added that the airport windsock was frozen in place, making it difficult to discern the wind velocity and direction. She reported that during the landing roll, the airplane began to veer to the left of the runway center. She said that the chief pilot/check airman then took control of the airplane to correct the veer, but the strong crosswind continued to push the airplane to the left on the ice-covered runway. The airplane subsequently collided with a snow berm on the left side of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. During a follow up conversation with the operator’s director of operations, he said that the chief pilot/check airman was on board the accident flight to provide additional OE to a recently hired pilot due to icy runway conditions and a strong crosswind at the destination airport. This was the pilot’s first flight to the remote village.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9996M
- Reported as
- Cessna 207
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 207007779
- Built
- 1984
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-F, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 135
- Operator
- Yute Air Commuter
- Registered owner
- Yr-Aircraft Leasing LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · January 9, 2023 · 33.6 hours before
- Departed
- BET · Bethel, AK
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- PAEW · Newtok, runway 33, 2,200 × 35 ft, snow
- Equipment
- Electronic flight bag or handheld device
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 4, 2023
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 770 total · 34 in this make and model · 663 as pilot in command · 91 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Check pilot
- Age
- 61
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 38,000 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 45 °F
- Observed at
- PAOO, 27 nm away
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2023, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.5 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.