# NTSB ANC89LA031: Cessna 207A, N7329U, Russian Mission, AK, January 3, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 3, 1989, 15:40 local (19:40 UTC)
- Place: Russian Mission, AK
- Coordinates: 61.809772, -161.439544 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.8098&lon=-161.4395&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5158
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC89LA031
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5158/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA031

## Probable cause

THE PARTIAL ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING BY FLYING AT A TRAFFIC PATTERN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT TO INSURE A SAFE EMERGENCY LANDING EITHER ON OR OFF THE AIRPORT AND HIS MISJUDGEMENT OF CLEARANCE ABOVE THE FROZEN RIVER.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - downwind
  - powerplant - failure,partial (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - flare/touchdown
  - maneuver - improper, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE COMMERCIAL AIR TAXI PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER WERE UNINJURED FOLLOWING A FORCED LANDING. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE HAD FLOWN OVER HIS INTENDED LANDING SITE AT RUSSIAN MISSION, AK., TO INSPECT THE RUNWAY. ON THE DOWNWIND LEG, THE ENGINE OF CESSNA 207 LOST MOST OF ITS POWER. HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTORE SUFFICIENT POWER TO REMAIN AIRBORNE AND ELECTED TO LAND ON THE NEARBY, FROZEN, YUKON RIVER. HE SAID THAT HE MISJUDGED HIS ALTITUDE DURING THE LANDING APPROACH DUE TO THE FEATURELESS, ALL WHITE SURFACE OF THE RIVER, AND STRUCK THE SURFACE WHILE STILL IN A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN. INSPECTION OF THE CRASH SITE TWO DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED NUMEROUS ICE CRYSTALS IN THE LEFT FUEL TANK SUMP. NO OTHER OBVIOUS ABNORMALITIES WERE NOTED. IT IS UNKNOWN IF THE ICE CRYSTALS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANK WERE CONTRIBUTORY TO THE ACCIDENT DUE TO THE LENGTH OF TIME BETWEEN THE SAMPLE AND THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7329U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7329U-1991-01-25), registration cancelled 1991-01-25, S/N 20700401 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 207A
- Registry model: [Cessna 207A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207a) (registry code 2073604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20700403
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Ryan Air
- Registered owner: Ryan Air, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, December 18, 1988
- Departed: KLG, KALSKAG, AK
- Destination: RSH, RUSSIAN MISSION, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: RSH

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,650 total, 2,205 in this make and model, 4,020 as pilot in command, 240 in the last 90 days, 71 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 28 °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 19890103000159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890103000159A), Jan 3, 1989: Cessna 207A, Russian Mission, AK, Substantial damage. Engine quit on approach. Crash landed on snow covered river due to whiteout. Possible ice in fuel. Engine normal.

## Other investigations on N7329U (1)

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 ANC85LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85LA046), Feb 7, 1985: Cessna 207A (N7329U), Koyuk, AK, minor damage, 1 fatal

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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