# NTSB ANC98LA149: Cessna 207, N1754U, Sleetmute, AK, September 13, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 13, 1998, 10:22 local (18:22 UTC) - Place: Sleetmute, AK - Coordinates: 61.680027, -157.159133 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6800&lon=-157.1591&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 43982 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA149 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43982/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA149 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for departure. A factor in the accident was a narrow runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - object - undetermined - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - narrow (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - flight control,elevator - jammed ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1754U), registered now, S/N 20700354, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 207 - Registry model: [Cessna T207](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t207) (registry code 2073612) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20700354 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19980913023679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980913023679A), Sep 13, 1998: Cessna T207, Sleetmute, AK, Substantial damage. Air taxi struck an unidentified object with its tail on rotation for takeoff, acft returned to the arpt with some difficulty and landed safely with substantail… ## Other investigations on N1754U (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 ANC08CA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08CA120), Sep 9, 2008: Cessna T207 (N1754U), Nyac, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in the nose wheel separating from the airplane during the landing roll. 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.