# NTSB ANC87FA117: Cessna 207, N7371U, Crooked Creek, AK, August 8, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 8, 1987, 09:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Crooked Creek, AK
- Coordinates: 61.859123, -157.990844 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.8591&lon=-157.9908&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 6, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4784
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC87FA117
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4784/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC87FA117

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - water (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT OVERFLEW THE DESTINATION DUE TO FOG. THE STATION MANAGER STATED THAT AFTER TRANSMITTING TO THE PLT THAT THE WX WAS 'ZERO ZERO', THE PLT STATED THAT HE WOULD CONTINUE ON TO RED DEVIL AND SHE HEARD IT FLY OVERHEAD. THE FIRST PIECES OF ACFT DEBRIS WERE FOUND 9 MILES SOUTH OF CROOKED CREEK ALONG THE WESTERN SHORE OF THE KUSKOKWIN RIVER AT A POINT WHERE IT WIDENED AND THE SURFACE OF THE WATER SMOOTHED OUT. NO IMPACT MARKS WERE FOUND ALONG EITHER SHORE OF THE RIVER. OTHER PLTS IN THE AREA STATED THAT THE FOG WAS DOWN TO THE GROUND AND EXTENDED APPROX 12 MILES SOUTH OF CROOKED CREEK. THE ENGINE, PLT'S SEAT, AND ACFT WERE NOT RECOVERED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7371U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7371U-1989-03-02), registration cancelled 1989-03-02, S/N 20700422 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 207
- Registry model: [Cessna 207A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207a) (registry code 2073604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20700402
- Airframe hours: 10015
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-470 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Hermans Air Inc.
- Registered owner: Hermans Air, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: AAIP, July 25, 1987
- Departed: CHUATHBALUK, AK
- Destination: CJX, CROOKED CREEK, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: Crooked Creek

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,467 total, 167 in this make and model, 1,096 as pilot in command, 146 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Temperature: 54 °F

## 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 19870808047459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870808047459A), Aug 8, 1987: Cessna 207A, Crooked Creek, AK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Crashed into a river en route to alternate due to zero weather at destination. Indicates pilot lost control en route

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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