# NTSB ANC90FA101: Cessna 207A, N9985M, Aialak Bay, AK, June 25, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 25, 1990, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Aialak Bay, AK
- Coordinates: 60.049903, -149.329956 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.0499&lon=-149.3300&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5298
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC90FA101
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5298/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC90FA101

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S ATTEMPT TO FLY UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES WHILE IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE LOW CEILING AND SURROUNDING MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

TWO AIRPLANES DEPARTED SEWARD WITHIN MINUTES OF EACH OTHER ON A LOCAL FLIGHTSEEING TRIP, AND THEIR FLIGHT ROUTES WERE TO BE THE SAME. AFTER REACHING AIALAK BAY, THIS AIRPLANE PASSED THE OTHER AND STARTED THE RETURN TRIP TO SEWARD. THE PASS THEY WOULD NORMALLY USE WAS OBSCURED BY CLOUDS. THE PENINSULA THAT SEPARATED AIALAK BAY AND SEWARD WAS THE ONLY PART OF LAND THAT WAS OBSCURED BY WEATHER. THE BASES OF THE CLOUDS WERE AT 1200 FEET MSL. THE AIRPLANE WAS LOCATED ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE, AT THE 2700 FOOT LEVEL OF A MOUNTAIN, AND THE WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED ALONG 330 DEGREES. THE PILOT HAD BEEN HIRED LESS THAN 2 MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AS A GROUND HANDLER AND FUELER, AND FOR PILOT TRAINING. TWO DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT HE WAS AUTHORIZED TO FLY PART 135 FLIGHTSEEING TRIPS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9985M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9985M-1991-06-21), registration cancelled 1991-06-21, S/N 20700775, 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: 20700775
- Airframe hours: 3391
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Trail Lake Flying Service, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 18, 1990, 8 hours before
- Departed: SWD, SEWARD, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: SWD, Seward

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, invalid medical for flight; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 540 total, 510 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 55 °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 19900625026689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900625026689A), Jun 25, 1990: Cessna 207A, Seward, AK, Destroyed, 5 fatal. Struck side of rocky surface of mountain. Clouds obscured mountain passes. Wreckage burned fell down steep slope.

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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