- Date
- September 13, 1998, 10:22 local (18:22 UTC)
- Place
- Sleetmute, AK
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N1754UCessna 207
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 16, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19980913023679A
- Case key
- 43982
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for departure. A factor in the accident was a narrow runway.
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.
Analysis
The certificated commercial pilot, with the three passengers, was departing downhill from a remote private airstrip. The airstrip is 12 feet wide. The landing gear of the airplane is 10 feet wide. When the pilot rotated the airplane for takeoff, he heard a loud bang. After lift off, the pilot discovered the elevator was jammed in the up position. He lowered the flaps, and reduced engine power. The pilot was able to control the airplane's pitch attitude by holding full forward elevator pressure on the control yoke, and applying full nose down trim. The flight landed at the destination airport without further problems. After landing, an inspection of the airplane revealed a dent in the underside of the aft edge of the left stabilizer, and the leading edge of the elevator. The dent was in-line with the left landing gear tire.
Factual narrative
On September 13, 1998, about 1022 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 207 airplane, N1754U, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from a remote private airstrip, about 51 miles south of Sleetmute, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand passenger flight under Title 14 CFR Part 135 when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Inland Aviation Services Inc., Aniak, Alaska. The certificated commercial pilot, and the three passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect.
The operator reported the airplane was departing downhill on runway 14 at the Taylor Mountain Mine airstrip. The dirt/gravel airstrip, elevation 1,000 feet msl, is 1,950 feet long, and 12 feet wide. When the pilot rotated the airplane for takeoff, he heard a loud bang. After lift off, the pilot discovered the elevator was jammed in the up position. He lowered the flaps, and reduced engine power. The pilot was able to control the airplane's pitch attitude by holding full forward elevator pressure on the control yoke, and applying full nose down trim. The flight landed at Aniak without further problems. After landing, an inspection of the airplane revealed a dent in the underside of the aft edge of the left stabilizer, and the leading edge of the elevator. The dent was in-line with the left landing gear tire.
The landing gear of the accident airplane is 10 feet wide.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1754U
- Reported as
- Cessna 207
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20700354
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-F, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Inland Aviation Services Inc.
- Registered owner
- Inland Holdings Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- AK64
- Destination
- PANI · Aniak, AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- AK64 · Taylor Mountain Mine, runway 14, 1,950 × 12 ft, gravel
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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 53
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,940 total · 250 in this make and model · 1,890 as pilot in command · 125 in the last 90 days · 31 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 315° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 45 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N1754U · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.