- Date
- February 13, 2023, 15:00 local (Feb 14, 2023, 00:00 UTC)
- Place
- Chugiak, AK · Runway
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9572GCessna U206F
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of visual reference
- 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
- FAA report
- 20230213001229A
- Case key
- 106736
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 during takeoff in flat light conditions which resulted in a loss of control and impact with a snow berm.
Findings · 4
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 reported that the runway had about 12 inches of new snow and the runway edge lights were not visible. During the takeoff run, in flat light conditions, he was unable to determine the centerline of the runway, and the airplane subsequently drifted left of centerline. The left main landing gear impacted a snow berm along the edge of the runway and the airplane spun around 90°, which resulted 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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9572G
- Reported as
- Cessna U206F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- U20601772
- Built
- 1972
- Airframe hours
- 9,726.6
- Engine
- Continental IO520F, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 135
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · December 30, 2022 · 18 hours before
- Destination
- MCG · Mcgrath, AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- BCV · Birchwood Airport, runway 02L, 4,012 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Unknown
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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 66
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 1, 2022
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 17,120 total · 7,700 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 20° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 7,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 14 °F, dew point 9 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.97 inHg
- Turbulence
- Unknown
- Observed at
- PABV
- METAR
- PABV 132356Z AUTO 02004KT 9SM -SN OVC070 M10/M13 A2997 RMK AO2 SNB37 SLP156 P0000 60001 T11001128 11089 21117 55001 FZRANO
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 6, 2023, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.3 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.
Other investigations on N9572G · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.