ANC95LA127

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 206 · Sterling, AK · August 4, 1995

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 3, 1995, 20:00 local (Aug 4, 1995, 04:00 UTC)
Place
Sterling, AK
Injuries
3 uninjured
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N206EJCessna 206N7KAPiper PA-18-150
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 14, 1996
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Alaska Regional Office
Case key
2706

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

Failure of both pilot's to maintain adequate visual lookout. The low angle of the sun was a related factor.

Failure of both pilot's to maintain adequate visual lookout. The low angle of the sun was a related factor.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Midair collisionTakeoff - initial climb
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot of other aircraftCause
Light condition - sunglareFactor
Midair collisionCruise
Visual lookout - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Visual lookout - not maintainedPilot of other aircraftCause
Light condition - sunglareFactor

Analysis

The pilot of Cessna 206 floatplane, N206EJ, made a touch-and-go landing on a river and departed in a southbound direction. He then began a climbing left turn toward the north-northeast. In the same vicinity, the pilot of Piper PA-18, N7KA, was in level flight on a westerly heading at about 1,000 feet mean sea level. Subsequently, the two airplanes converged. Just before colliding, the PA-18 pilot saw the Cessna 206. He immediately pulled up into a climb, but the outboard right wingtip of the Cessna contacted the left tire of the PA-18. Both airplanes continued to their respective departure airports and landed without further incident. The weather condition at the time was reported as 4,000 to 5,000 feet scattered; visibility 10 miles. The sun was located on a 277 degree heading from the accident site and 16.2 degrees above the horizon.

The pilot of Cessna 206 floatplane, N206EJ, made a touch-and-go landing on a river and departed in a southbound direction. He then began a climbing left turn toward the north-northeast. In the same vicinity, the pilot of Piper PA-18, N7KA, was in level flight on a westerly heading at about 1,000 feet mean sea level. Subsequently, the two airplanes converged. Just before colliding, the PA-18 pilot saw the Cessna 206. He immediately pulled up into a climb, but the outboard right wingtip of the Cessna contacted the left tire of the PA-18. Both airplanes continued to their respective departure airports and landed without further incident. The weather condition at the time was reported as 4,000 to 5,000 feet scattered; visibility 10 miles. The sun was located on a 277 degree heading from the accident site and 16.2 degrees above the horizon.

Factual narrative

Same as narrative ANC-95-L-A127A

On August 3, 1995, about 2000 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Cessna 206, N206EJ, collided with a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18-150, N7KA, about 1,000 feet mean sea level (MSL), about 1 mile east of Sterling, Alaska. The accident area was near the intersection of the Moose river and the Kenai river. N206EJ was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight that departed Lake Hood Seaplane base, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1900. N7KA was being operated as a VFR local area personal flight that departed Soldotna airport, Soldotna, Alaska, about 1900. N206EJ, received substantial damage. N7KA was not damaged. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant of N206EJ, was not injured. The certificated private pilot and the sole passenger of N7KA were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

The pilot of N206EJ reported that he was practicing takeoff and landings and had just departed the Moose River in a southbound direction. He then began a climbing left turn toward the northeast. The pilot of N7KA indicated that he was in level flight on a westerly heading, following the north side of the Kenai river. He noticed N206EJ to the left and below his airplane and immediately pulled up into a climb. The outboard right wingtip of N206EJ contacted the left tire of N7KA. Both airplanes continued to their respective departure airports and landed without further incident.

The pilot of N206EJ indicated that he announced his intentions on a radio frequency of 122.9 while conducting his takeoff and landings. The pilot of N7KA indicated that he had been monitoring the Soldotna, Alaska, Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) radio frequency but had changed to 122.9 at the end of N206EJ's position report and did not hear the entire transmission.

Both pilot's reported that the weather conditions at the time consisted of scattered clouds between 4,000 to 5,000 feet; visibility, 10 miles; temperature, 60 degrees F; wind, 180 degrees at 7 to 10 knots. The position of the sun at the time of the accident was computed to be on a 277 degree heading from the accident site and 16.2 degrees above the horizon.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N206EJ
Reported as
Cessna 206
Category
Airplane
Serial number
U20602507
Airframe hours
2,800
Engine
Continental IO-520-F, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
James T. Zernell
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · March 7, 1995 · 53 hours before
Departed
LHD · Anchorage, AK

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Registration
N7KA
Reported as
Piper PA-18-150
Category
Airplane
Serial number
18-7809069
Airframe hours
1,506
Engine
Lycoming O-320-B2B, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
No damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Trevor Lofstedt
Registered owner
Vernon Lofstedt
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · May 29, 1995 · 27 hours before
Departed
SXQ · Soldotna, AK

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N206EJ
Age
37
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
975 total · 310 in this make and model · 847 as pilot in command · 29 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot, aircraft N7KA
Age
20
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Front
Flight hours
160 total · 90 in this make and model · 100 as pilot in command · 45 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
180° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
61 °F

FAA reports on this event · 2

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.