# NTSB ANC85LA039: Cessna C-207, N7396U, Nome, AK, January 11, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 11, 1985, 19:04 local (23:04 UTC)
- Place: Nome, AK
- Coordinates: 64.710601, -164.620178 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7106&lon=-164.6202&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4462
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC85LA039
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4462/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85LA039

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Altitude deviation,uncontrolled, approach
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not possible, pilot in command
  - altitude - not possible, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach

## Analysis

PLT OBTAINED A SPECIAL VFR TO LAND AT NOME ARPT. PLT SAW APCH LIGHTS AND MADE A LEFT CIRCLE TO LINE UP WITH RWY. PLT STATED, CEILING WAS 300 FT AGL, LOW VISIBILITY AND FREEZING DRIZZLE WAS PRESENT. APRX 3/8 INCH OF ICE WAS ON AIRFRAME AND WINDSHIELD. PLT STATED, 'I FAILED TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE... .' ACFT CONTACTED LEVEL TERRAIN APRX 5 MILES WEST OF THE ARPT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7396U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7396U), registered now, S/N 20700438, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA C-207
- Registry model: [Cessna 207A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207a) (registry code 2073604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20700438
- Airframe hours: 4426
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Foster Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 11, 1984, 44 hours before
- Departed: SHH, SHISHMAREK, AK
- Destination: OME, NOME, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: OME, Nome

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 11,570 total, 4,215 in this make and model, 11,300 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 80° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft broken
- Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: OME, 5 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 19850111002109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850111002109A), Jan 11, 1985: Cessna 207A, Nome, AK, Substantial damage. While circling awaiting clearance, ice formed on aircraft. Pilot failed to maintain altitude and contacted ground.

## Other investigations on N7396U (2)

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.

- [NTSB ANC96LA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA144), Sep 3, 1996: Cessna 207 (N7396U), Kotzebue, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: an in-flight encouter with bird(s)/geese, which resulted in a bird strike.
- [NTSB ANC80DA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80DA041), Apr 23, 1980: Cessna 207A (N7396U), Stebbins, AK, substantial damage

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.

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