# NTSB ANC92FA022: Cessna 207, N6390H, Mcgrath, AK, December 22, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 22, 1991, 18:36 local (22:36 UTC)
- Place: Mcgrath, AK
- Coordinates: 63.609481, -154.779617 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.6095&lon=-154.7796&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 9, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5639
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC92FA022
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5639/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92FA022

## Probable cause

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION AND HIS ATTEMPT TO FLY VFR THROUGH IMC CONDITIONS.  FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE SNOW, WHITEOUT CONDITIONS, AND DARKNESS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - attempted, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF HALFWAY MOUNTAIN HEADING APPROXIMATELY 270 DEGREES AT THE 1600 FOOT LEVEL.  THE ACCIDENT SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN TWO MILES OF THE INITIAL APPROACH FIX FOR THE LOCALIZER/DME RUNWAY 16 APPROACH AT MCGRATH.  THE MEA FOR THE DME ARC IS LISTED AS 3600 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL.  THE SECTOR OBSTRUCTION CLEARANCE ALTITUDE  IS LISTED AS 3100 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL.  WEATHER FOR THE AREA, AIRMET SIERRA, INDICATED THAT MOUNTAIN TOPS WOULD BE OBSCURED AND THAT CEILINGS WOULD OCCASIONALLY BE 1500 FEET BROKEN.  THERE WERE REPORTS OF SNOWSHOWERS IN THE AREA OF SUFFICIENT INTENSITY THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW THE SEARCH AIRCRAFT TO FLY THROUGH THE SNOWSHOWERS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6390H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6390H-2013-04-29), registration cancelled 2013-04-29, S/N 20700507, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 207
- Registry model: [Cessna 207A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207a) (registry code 2073604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20700507
- Airframe hours: 11979
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-F17B 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Markair Express Inc.
- Registered owner: Markair, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, November 27, 1991, 43 hours before
- Departed: 5NI, NIKOLAI, AK
- Destination: MCG, MCGRATH, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,015 total, 1,741 as pilot in command, 188 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: -6 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MCG, 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 19911222057109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911222057109A), Dec 22, 1991: Cessna 207, Mcgrath, AK, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Flew into mountainside en route. Mountain obscured, snowshowers in area. Landing light was on.

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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