# NTSB ANC90FA164: Cessna P206C, N8646Z, Talkeetna, AK, September 2, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 2, 1990, 00:01 local (08:01 UTC)
- Place: Talkeetna, AK
- Coordinates: 62.449413, -149.789611 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4494&lon=-149.7896&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): 5308
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC90FA164
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5308/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC90FA164

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE FOR TERRAIN CLEARANCE. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, AND THE DARK NIGHT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING A WX BRIEFING THE PILOT WAS ADVISED THAT VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED, PASSES WERE CLOSED, AND THAT TWO PILOT REPORTS INDICATED CLOUDS WERE TO THE GROUND NEAR A PASS. THE PILOT SUBSEQUENTLY CONTACTED ANCHORAGE APPROACH CONTROL STATING HE WAS 73 MI NORTH OF ANCHORAGE, LANDING, AND REQUESTED TRAFFIC SEPARATION AND RADAR VECTORS. APPROACH REPLIED THAT THE PILOT WAS TOO FAR NORTH FOR COVERAGE, AND TO MAINTAIN VFR CONDITIONS. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED AT THE 4,000-FT LEVEL OF A 4,500-FT HIGH RIDGE/MOUNTAIN, IN AN AREA NEAR WHERE THE MINIMUM ENROUTE ALTITUDE (MEA), OR MINIMUM OBSTRUCTION ALTITUDE (MOCA), CHANGE FROM 10,000 FT TO 7,500 FT SOUTHBOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8646Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8646Z-1992-10-27), registration cancelled 1992-10-27, S/N P2060446 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA P206C
- Registry model: [Cessna P206C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p206c) (registry code 2073312) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: P206-0446
- Airframe hours: 8751
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-A 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Monte R. Merrill
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 15, 1989, 241 hours before
- Departed: GAL, GALENA, AK
- Destination: ANC, ANCHORAGE, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 580 total, 325 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TKA, 17 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 19900902040229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900902040229A), Sep 2, 1990: Cessna P206C, Talkeetna, AK, Destroyed, 5 fatal. Flew into side of cloud obscured ridge at night 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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.