# NTSB ANC96LA025: Cessna 206, N5293X, Kotzebue, AK, January 27, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 27, 1996, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Kotzebue, AK - Coordinates: 67.23957, -161.189193 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.2396&lon=-161.1892&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 17, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2798 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2798/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA025 ## Probable cause The pilot's poor judgment in conducting the flight in the existing high gusting wind conditions. A factor associated with the accident was the operator allowing/dispatching the accident flight in the prevailing weather conditions, and the icy ramp/taxi area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with weather, taxi - from landing - weather condition - gusts (cause) - weather condition - high wind (cause) - flight into adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (cause) - flight into adverse weather - dispatched, company/operator management (contributing factor) - Nose down, taxi - from landing - airport facilities,taxiway condition - icy (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said that while taxiing from landing, as he was making a right turn into the ramp area, the wind lifted the right wing causing the left wing and propeller to strike the ground. The taxi surface was hard-packed snow and ice, and braking action was poor. The 1251 wind was reported as 35 knots with gusts to 41. The Director of Operations (D.O.) stated that the flight went through the normal flight following/dispatch procedures. The D.O. said there were no written company standards addressed when flights should be cancelled due to excessive surface wind velocity. In addition, the D.O. indicated that the primary responsibility for determining if the winds/weather were suitable for the flight to be conducted rested with the pilot-in-command. ## Factual narrative On January 27, 1996, about 1230 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 206, N5293X, experienced an upset while taxiing at the Ralph Wein Memorial Airport, Kotzebue, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross- country positioning flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by Baker Aviation Inc., Kotzebue, sustained substantial damage. The certificated airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Noorvik airport, Noorvik, Alaska, at 1209. The operator reported that after landing on runway 08, the pilot exited the runway at the east end and was taxiing to the company ramp. The taxiway surface was hard-packed snow and ice. Braking action was poor. While making the turn into the ramp area, gusty winds tipped the right wing of the airplane upwards. The left wing and propeller contacted the taxiway surface, wrinkling the outboard end of the wing and damaging the propeller tips. A 1251 surface weather observation at Kotzebue was reporting in part: Sky condition and ceiling, 10,000 feet scattered, 20,000 feet thin broken clouds; visibility, 3 miles in blowing snow; temperature, 4 degrees F; dew point -1 degrees F; wind, 110 degrees at 35 knots, gusts to 41 knots; altimeter, 30.07 inHg. A telephone conversation with the Director of Operations (D.O.) on March 27, disclosed that the accident flight went through the normal flight following/dispatch procedures. The D.O. indicated that the primary responsibility for determining if the winds/weather were suitable for the flight to be conducted rested with the pilot-in-command. The D.O. said when the flight was conducted, there were no written company standards which addressed when flights should be cancelled due to excessive surface wind velocity. The D.O. also said that several earlier flights that day had been cancelled due to high winds and associated turbulence, and that the only way that the accident flight could have been prevented was "...for the pilot not to have been there." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5293X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5293X), registered now, S/N U20605612 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 206 - Registry model: [Cessna U206G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206g) (registry code 2073356) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U20605612 - Airframe hours: 9428 - Engines: Continental IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Baker Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, January 26, 1996, 10 hours before - Departed: ORV, NOORVIK, AK - Destination: OTZ - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: OTZ, Ralph Wein Memorial ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,870 total, 466 in this make and model, 2,785 as pilot in command, 262 in the last 90 days, 91 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 35 knots, gusting 41 - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 3 °F, dew point -0 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: OTZ ## 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 19960127009149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960127009149A), Jan 27, 1996: Cessna U206, Kotzebue, AK, Substantial damage. Turning onto ramp wind blew aircraft up on a wing and nose. Too much wind for high wing and lack wing walkers. ## Other investigations on N5293X (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 ANC01LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA002), Oct 6, 2000: Cessna 206 (N5293X), Kiana, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: An in-flight collision with birds. - [NTSB ANC96LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA021), Dec 10, 1995: Cessna U206G (N5293X), Selawik, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight of the airplane by failing to ensure that all the airplane's doors were properly closed. A factor associated with the accident is an open door. 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.