# NTSB ANC94LA083: Cessna 206, N8287Q, Noatak, AK, July 16, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 1994, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Noatak, AK - Coordinates: 67.569686, -162.999908 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.5697&lon=-162.9999&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2523 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA083 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2523/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA083 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE LANDING AREA. A FACTOR WAS A 'CUT BANK' IN THE LANDING AREA. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - ditch (contributing factor) - Gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis THE PILOT 'DRAGGED' THE GRAVEL BAR, LOCATED ON THE KELLY RIVER, THREE TIMES AND DID NOT SEE ANYTHING UNUSUAL. HE HAD LANDED IN THAT AREA DURING THREE PREVIOUS FLIGHTS. HE LANDED ON THE GRAVEL BAR AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL OUT THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A 'CUT BANK.' THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE GEAR WAS SHEARED AND THE MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS PUSHED REARWARD. THE COLOR OF THE GRAVEL IN THE LANDING AREA AND THE 'CUT BANK' WERE THE SAME. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 1994, at 1200 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 206 airplane, registered to and operated by Northwestern Aviation of Kotzebue, Alaska, struck a "cut bank" while landing on a gravel bar on the Kelly River, 100 miles north of Kotzebue. The Air Taxi flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 135, departed Kotzebue on a VFR flight plan and the destination was the accident site. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot and the passenger were not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. According to the pilot, he had landed on the gravel before but he still "dragged" the strip three times before this landing. He dragged the strip each time at a lower altitude ending with 500 feet. He could not see the "cut bank" during his observations of the landing area. During the roll out the airplane struck the cut bank. The cut bank was approximately 3 to 4 feet deep and was composed of the same material as the rest of the gravel bar. The airplane's nose gear sheared just above the fork attach points and the main landing gear was pushed rearward causing damage to the fuselage gear box attaching structure. According to information provided by the Federal Aviation Administration Airman Certification Branch in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the pilot applied for an additional aircraft category rating on May 6, 1994. The pilot listed that he had a total time of 3800 hours in airplanes and 35 hours in helicopters. He was issued a rotorcraft/helicopter rating which fulfilled the additional requirement for a Biennial Flight Review. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8287Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8287Q), registered now, S/N U20603148, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 206 - Registry model: [Cessna U206F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206f) (registry code 2073333) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U20603148 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Northwestern Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: OTZ, KOTZEBUE, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,835 total, 3,313 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 11 knots - Visibility: 90 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °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 19940716018619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940716018619A), Jul 16, 1994: Cessna U206F, Noatak, AK, Substantial damage. Struck cutbank landing on gravel bar. Sheared nose gear. Damaged fuselage. Failed note cut bank on flyover. 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.