# NTSB ANC98LA056: Cessna 207, N755AB, Quinhagak, AK, May 22, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 21, 1998, 16:30 local (May 22, 1998, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Quinhagak, AK - Coordinates: 59.73999, -161.890182 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.7400&lon=-161.8902&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 17, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3144 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA056 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3144/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA056 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane, and his premature liftoff, resulting in a collision with a runway light fixture. Factors in the accident were wet runway conditions, and a rough and uneven runway surface with potholes. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - object - runway light - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot was departing a rural village runway with two passengers on an air taxi flight. The center of the runway surface had numerous puddles of water. During the takeoff roll, the left main wheel entered a mud puddle, and the airplane veered to the left. The pilot corrected to the right, and raised the airplane's nose to lift off into ground effect, and avoid any more areas of water. The airplane descended slightly, and the pilot lowered the nose to gain airspeed. The airplane climbed away from the runway, and the pilot continued to the destination airport. Upon landing, the pilot discovered damage to the outboard end of the left horizontal stabilizer. The operator reported the airplane struck a runway edge light. An FAA airworthiness inspector reported that the damage to the stabilizer would necessitate the replacement of the outboard nose rib. The Airport Facility Directory listing for the accident airport indicated that potholes were present along the entire length of the runway. The runway was graded about 2 weeks before the accident. ## Factual narrative On May 21, 1998, about 1630 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 207 airplane, N755AB, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from the Quinhagak Airport, Quinhagak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) scheduled passenger flight under Title 14 CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Yute Air Alaska Inc., Anchorage, Alaska. The certificated commercial pilot, and two passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The operator reported the pilot was departing runway 04 at Quinhagak. The center of the runway surface had numerous puddles of water. During the takeoff roll, the left main wheel entered a mud puddle, and the airplane veered to the left. The pilot corrected to the right, and raised the airplane's nose to lift off into ground effect, and avoid any more areas of water. The airplane descended slightly, and the pilot lowered the nose to gain airspeed. The airplane climbed away from the runway, and the pilot continued to the destination of Bethel, Alaska. Upon landing, the pilot discovered damage to the outboard end of the left horizontal stabilizer. The operator reported the airplane struck a runway edge light at Quinhagak. On May 26, 1998, the operator's Director of Maintenance reported the company replaced the entire left stabilizer. On May 27, 1998, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector, Anchorage Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), reported the damage to the stabilizer would necessitate the replacement of the outboard nose rib. The Alaska Supplement/Airport Facility Directory for Quinhagak states, in part: "Airport remarks - Unattended. Runway condition not monitored, recommend visual inspection prior to using. Potholes entire length of runway. Runway 04-22 marked with reflective cones and threshold panels, some are damaged and obscured by brush. Equipment occasionally on runway. Runway 04-22 may flood. North side of runway lined with sandbags. East edge of apron undercut by river washout." On August 28, 1998, the manager of the Alaska Department of Transportation (AKDOT) office, Bethel, Alaska, reported that the Bethel office is responsible for 26 rural village airports. Runway maintenance is conducted by State of Alaska personnel on an as-needed basis. All of the runways are inspected each calendar quarter, but no firm schedule is established. Access to the villages, and the ability to conduct any runway grading, is weather and ground condition dependent. The Bethel office has two runway maintenance personnel, and one electrician. Runway conditions are usually reported to the State of Alaska by pilots of the air charter companies that fly into the villages. If State personnel cannot conduct runway maintenance at a particular village, the reported runway conditions are listed in FAA Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs). The Bethel AKDOT office indicated a NOTAM was issued on May 4, 1998, that cautioned pilots about men and equipment working on the south 1,300 feet of the runway at Quinhagak. The NOTAM was put into effect for the purpose of grading the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N755AB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N755AB-2019-07-24), registration cancelled 2019-07-24, S/N 20700622 (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: 207-00622 - Airframe hours: 11754 - Engines: Continental IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Yute Air Alaska Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 12, 1998, 43 hours before - Departed: AQH - Destination: BET, BETHEL, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: AQH, Quinhagak, runway 4, 2,600 × 60 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 800 as pilot in command, 270 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 46 °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 19980521014839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980521014839A), May 21, 1998: Cessna 207, Quinhagak, AK, Substantial damage. Hit mud puddle on takeoff from dirt strip. Landed bet found damaged stabilizer. Had hit rwy light on takeoff. (.4)the pilot was departing a rural village… ## Other investigations on N755AB (1) 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 ANC96LA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA019), Dec 16, 1995: Cessna 207A (N755AB), Newtok, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty crosswind conditions. Factors associated with the accident are the snow covered runway, and gusty crosswinds. 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.