# NTSB ANC88FA020: Cessna 207A, N9979M, Ambler, AK, December 11, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 10, 1987, 21:00 local (Dec 11, 1987, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Ambler, AK
- Coordinates: 67.079933, -157.900146 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.0799&lon=-157.9001&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4943
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC88FA020
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4943/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC88FA020

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - inadequate substantiation process, company/operator mgmt (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - ice fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with geographic area, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT OF THE AIR TAXI CARGO FLT WAS OPERG AT NIGHT IN MARGINAL VFR CONDS WHEN THE ACFT STRUCK RISING TERRAIN. THE ACFT WAS FND THE NEXT DAY AT APRX 1000 AST, SOME 15 MI OFF THE INTENDED ROUTE. THE PLT WAS UNCONSCIOUS & SUFFERING FM HYPOTHERMIA & OTHER INJURIES. HE WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL, BUT DIED LATER THAT DAY. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACFT STRUCK THE SOUTH SIDE OF BISMARK MTN AT APRX 2100' MSL WHILE IN LVL FLT. ANOTHER PLT, WHO WAS FLYING IN THE AREA ABOUT 2-1/2 HRS AFTER THE ACDNT, RPRTD THAT CLASSIC WHITE-OUT CONDS EXISTED WITH MOD SNOW FALL & ICE CRYSTALS RDCG FWD VIS TO LESS THAN 1/2 MI. THE PLT (OF N9979M) HAD BEEN RECENTLY HIRED BY BERING AIR & HAD ONLY ABOUT 23 HRS OF KNOWN FLT TIME IN THE GENERAL AREA. AT THE TIME OF EMPLOYMENT, HE INDCD HE HAD APRX 1536 HRS OF FLT TIME; HOWEVER, ONLY 446 HRS OF FLT TIME WAS VERIFIED BY HIS LOGBOOK & OTHER SOURCES. MIN FLT TIME TO ACT AS A PIC IN THE AIR TAXI OPN WAS 500 HRS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9979M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9979M-1991-10-08), registration cancelled 1991-10-08, S/N 20700773, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 207A
- Registry model: [Cessna 207A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207a) (registry code 2073605) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520-F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-f) (registry code 17237, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20700773
- Airframe hours: 3343
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Bering Air, Inc.
- Registered owner: Bering Air Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 22, 1987, 40 hours before
- Departed: Z60, KOTZEBUE, AK
- Destination: SHG, SHUNGNAK, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 446 total, 60 in this make and model, 265 as pilot in command, 85 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Temperature: 10 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19871210070119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871210070119A), Dec 10, 1987: Cessna 207A, Ambler, AK, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Flew into rising terrain approaching airport at night in IMC. Had activated rwy lights. Unskilled in type operation

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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