# NTSB ANC97LA140: Cessna U206F, N7032Q, King Salmon, AK, September 2, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 1, 1997, 17:10 local (Sep 2, 1997, 01:10 UTC) - Place: King Salmon, AK - Coordinates: 58.749168, -156.540374 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.7492&lon=-156.5404&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3061 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA140 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3061/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=3061 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA140 ## Probable cause the pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area. Factors were the sand bar and the pilot's failure to use all available waterway for the takeoff. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - sand bar (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - all available runway - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Nose over, takeoff - roll/run ## Analysis The pilot aborted the first takeoff attempt in the seaplane when the pilot seat slipped aft. He did not back taxi the seaplane prior to beginning the second takeoff run. A passenger's video depicts the seaplane on the step, a passenger commenting on the shallow water, and the seaplane striking a sandbar located in the middle of the river. The seaplane came to rest inverted in shallow water. ## Factual narrative On September 1, 1997, about 1710, a float equipped Cessna U206F airplane, N7032Q, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over in water on the Alagnak River, 38 miles northeast of King Salmon, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot and two passengers were uninjured. The airplane was operated by Hartley, Inc., doing business as Branch River Air Service, of Anchorage, Alaska. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 135 as an on demand air taxi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a company flight plan was filed. Statements and a videotape taken by the passengers revealed that during the initial takeoff run, while on step, the pilot's seat slipped aft and he aborted the takeoff. He reset his seat, and did not water taxi the seaplane back to the original takeoff spot. The video depicts the seaplane beginning a second takeoff run, and the passengers can be heard commenting on the shallowness of the water. The seaplane then strikes a sandbar and noses over. This tape and overhead photographs show the seaplane inverted on a sandbar in shallow water. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7032Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7032Q), registered now, S/N U20603067, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna U206F - 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: U20603067 - Airframe hours: 8556 - Engines: Continental IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Hartley, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 28, 1997, 15 hours before - Departed: AKN, AK - Destination: ALAGNAK RIVER, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 20,000 total, 400 in this make and model, 14,000 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19970901026819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970901026819A), Sep 1, 1997: Cessna U206F, King Salmon, AK, Destroyed. (.4)The pilot aborted the first takeoff attempt in the seaplane when the pilot seat slipped aft. He did not back taxi the seaplane prior to beginning the… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 11, 1998, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=3061. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Company (item 1, .PDF, 373 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423432&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Company-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 445 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423433&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Supplement S (item 3, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423431&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Redacted.PDF - Passenger Statements (item 4, .PDF, 508 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423434&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 5, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423435&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1. Overhead View of the Airplane on Sandbar in Alagnak River (item 6, .PDF, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40087865&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20%20Overhead%20View%20of%20the%20Airplane%20on%20Sandbar%20in%20Alagnak%20River-Master.PDF 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.