# NTSB ANC98LA040: Cessna 207A, N7438U, Scammon Bay, AK, April 22, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 22, 1998, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Scammon Bay, AK - Coordinates: 61.790748, -165.960021 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7907&lon=-165.9600&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3132 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3132/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA040 ## Probable cause The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors in the accident were low ceilings, and whiteout conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly - terrain condition - snow covered ## Analysis A VFR cross-country air taxi flight with six passengers departed for a remote village. The pilot had previously flown along the accident route that transited a mountainous area. Low clouds were present over the mountains, and the pilot utilized a mountain pass to transit the area about 200 feet above the ground. He decided that route was not suitable for the accident flight with any passengers. During the accident flight, the pilot proceed east of the previously utilized mountain pass. The flight however, still necessitated transiting an area of low hills. As the flight was approaching the destination, snow covered terrain was rising toward low clouds over the mountains. The pilot observed what he thought was the approach end of the destination airport, and began a descent. The apparent runway was actually a creek bottom. The pilot began a turn, and observed rising terrain. He stopped the turn and applied full power. The airplane collided with rising terrain in a whiteout condition, about 900 feet msl. A passenger in the airplane reported that about 10 minutes after departure, the airplane entered an area of fog at an altitude of 3,000 feet msl. His view of the ground disappeared, and the area around the airplane was completely white. About 5 minutes after entering the fog, the airplane collided with snow covered terrain. ## Factual narrative On April 22, 1998, about 1130 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 207A airplane, N7438U, sustained substantial damage during a collision with snow covered terrain, about 3 1/2 miles southeast of Scammon Bay, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country on-demand passenger flight under Title 14 CFR Part 135 when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Hageland Aviation Services Inc., Anchorage, Alaska. The certificated airline transport pilot, and four of the six passengers aboard, were not injured. Two passengers received minor injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Hooper Bay Airport, Hooper Bay, Alaska, at 1107. In the pilot statement attached to the pilot/operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) submitted by the operator, the pilot reported he was in Scammon Bay about 1030, and flew to Hooper Bay to pick up the accident flight passengers. The passengers were a high school basketball team, and their coach, who were traveling to Scammon Bay. During the flight to Hooper Bay, the pilot reported low clouds were present in an area of mountains along the route of flight. He utilized a mountain pass to transit the area below a 200 foot ceiling, and decided his route was not suitable for the return flight to Scammon Bay with passengers aboard. During the accident flight to Scammon Bay, the pilot decided to proceed east of the previously utilized mountain pass. The flight however, still necessitated transiting an area of low hills. As the flight was approaching Scammon Bay, snow covered terrain was rising toward low clouds over the mountains. The pilot observed what he thought was the approach end of the runway at Scammon Bay, and began a descent from 2,500 feet msl. The apparent runway was actually a creek bottom. The pilot began a turn, and observed rising terrain. He stopped the turn and applied full power. The airplane collided with rising terrain in a whiteout condition, about 900 feet msl. The airplane then nosed over. Search and rescue personnel from both villages located the accident site about 1 1/2 hours later. A passenger in the airplane reported that about 10 minutes after departing Hooper Bay, the airplane entered an area of fog at an altitude of 3,000 feet msl. His view of the ground disappeared, and the area around the airplane was completely white. About 5 minutes after entering the fog, the airplane collided with snow covered terrain. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7438U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7438U-2018-03-07), registration cancelled 2018-03-07, S/N 20700464 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 207A - Registry model: [Cessna T207A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t207a) (registry code 2073614) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20700464 - Airframe hours: 7317 - Engines: Continental IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Hageland Aviation Services Inc - Registered owner: Gussic Ventures - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 19, 1998, 2 hours before - Departed: HPB, HOOPER BAY, AK - Destination: SCM, SCAMMON BAY, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 18,000 total, 800 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 156 in the last 90 days, 49 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 14 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HPB, 25 nm away ## 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 19980422007419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980422007419A), Apr 22, 1998: Cessna T207A, Scammon Bay, AK, Substantial damage. Believed saw airport. A creek bed. Went around and collided with snow covered rising terrain in whiteout condition. (.4)a VFR cross-country air taxi flight… 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.