# NTSB ANC95LA020: Cessna 207, N7340U, Saint Mary'S, AK, December 13, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 13, 1994, 13:10 local (17:10 UTC) - Place: Saint Mary'S, AK - Coordinates: 62.060375, -163.290161 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.0604&lon=-163.2902&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 31, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2617 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2617/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA020 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CONTINUE VISUAL FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT ARE THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE FROM TERRAIN, AND THE WHITEOUT WEATHER CONDITIONS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering - weather condition - snow - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE AIR TAXI PILOT REPORTED HE DEPARTED ST. MARY'S AIRPORT WITH ONE PASSENGER ABOARD. HE SAID HE WAS FLYING ABOUT 600' AGL ALONG THE SOUTH BANK OF THE YUKON RIVER, WHEN OPPOSITE DIRECTION TRAFFIC REPORTED INBOUND TO ST. MARY'S, ALSO FLYING ALONG THE SOUTH BANK. THE PILOT SAID HE ELECTED TO TRANSITION TO THE NORTH BANK TO AVOID TRAFFIC, BUT SOON ENCOUNTERED DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS. HE SAID FORWARD VISIBILITY RAPIDLY DIMINISHED, AND HE ENTERED WHITEOUT CONDITIONS. WHILE TRYING TO KEEP VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE SHORELINE AND TREES, HE SAID HE INADVERTENTLY ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO DESCEND UNTIL IT STRUCK SNOW COVERED TERRAIN. ## Factual narrative On December 13, 1994, at 1310 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 207 airplane, N7340U, operated by Hageland Aviation Services, Inc., collided with terrain approximately two miles north of Saint Mary's, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot-in-command, and the one revenue passenger on board the flight were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 135 extra section flight departed Saint Mary's at approximately 1308 and the intended destination was Mountain Village, Alaska. A company visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was in effect, and instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. On December 14, 1994, the NTSB investigator-in-charge conducted a telephone interview with the pilot of N7340U. The pilot said that the flight departed Saint Mary's on runway 34 and that he proceeded to visually navigate along the left bank (south side) of the Yukon River. Another flight reported on the common radio frequency of flying along the south side of the river but in the opposite direction. The pilot said that due to the poor visibility and the collision potential, he elected to transition across the river to the north shore. There was less vegetation along the north bank with which to use to maintain perspective with the ground. While the flight moved across the river, the pilot lost the ability to maintain level flight solely by reference to outside references and inadvertently allowed the airplane to descend. The plane struck the frozen surface of the river in a near level attitude damaging the propeller, the nose gear, and the firewall. The pilot said that white out conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. He estimated the ceiling to be between 300 and 500 feet obscured with light snow fall. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7340U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7340U), registered now, S/N 20700407, built 1977 (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: 20700407 - Airframe hours: 5137 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Hageland Aviation Services - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 14, 1994 - Departed: KSM, AK - Destination: MOU, MT. VILLAGE, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,425 total, 900 in this make and model, 3,300 as pilot in command, 186 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 40 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 135° at 5 knots - Lowest ceiling: 300 ft - Temperature: 25 °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 19941213047969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941213047969A), Dec 13, 1994: Cessna T207A, St Marys, AK, Substantial damage. Transitioning to other bank over frozen river due opposit traffic. Got whiteout condition. Flew into river ice. ## Other investigations on N7340U (2) 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 ANC01LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA031), Jan 19, 2001: Cessna 207 (N7340U), Kongiganak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during the takeoff roll. A factor associated with the accident was a crosswind. - [NTSB LAX79FUJ74](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79FUJ74), May 16, 1979: Cessna 207 (N7340U), Show Low, AZ, substantial damage 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.