# NTSB ANC99LA132: Cessna 207, N800DF, Ninilchik, AK, September 4, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 3, 1999, 19:30 local (Sep 4, 1999, 03:30 UTC) - Place: Ninilchik, AK - Coordinates: 60.069156, -151.420639 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.0692&lon=-151.4206&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 47327 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA132 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47327/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA132 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area. A factor associated with this accident was the sunglare. ## 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 - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The airplane was taking off from a sand beach. The on-demand fishing charter flight was about one hour late, and the incoming tide had reduced the width of the available takeoff area. During the takeoff roll, the left wingtip struck a tree stump on the high side of the beach, separating about four feet of wing and the left aileron. The commercial pilot and three passengers were not injured. The remaining two passengers received minor injuries. During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot stated that the winds were from the southwest at 10 knots, and he was taking off to the west. The NTSB IIC held telephone interviews with, and received written statements from, the passengers. They indicated that the pilot was in a hurry because of the incoming tide, and the late schedule. The pilot was taking off into the setting sun, and was not wearing sunglasses. According to the passengers, the pilot said he would wait for the sun to pass behind a cloud, but decided to depart. ## Factual narrative On September 3, 1999, about 1930 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 207 airplane, N800DF, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a tree stump during the takeoff roll from a beach on Chinitna Bay, at 59 degrees 40 minutes north latitude, 153 degrees 10 minutes west longitude, about 25 miles southwest of Ninilchik, Alaska. The commercial pilot and three of the passengers were not injured. The remaining two passengers sustained minor injuries. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 135 by Clearwater Air, Inc., of Soldotna, Alaska, as an on-demand air taxi flight, returning the five passengers to Soldotna from a fishing charter. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a company VFR flight plan was filed. During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) on September 3, the pilot stated that during the takeoff roll from the packed sand beach, the left wing contacted a tree stump, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing, nose gear, and engine. He said the load included the five passengers, their fishing gear, and two hours of fuel. He described the winds to be from the southwest at 10 knots, and he was taking off to the west. The airplane was modified with a Horton Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) kit. The NTSB IIC held telephone interviews with, and received written statements from, the passengers. They indicated that the flight was about one hour later than planned, and the tide was coming in, reducing the size of the beach available for takeoff. The passengers said the pilot was in a hurry because of the incoming tide, and the late schedule. The pilot was taking off into the setting sun, and was not wearing sunglasses. According to the passengers, the pilot said he would wait for the sun to pass behind a cloud, but decided to depart. They related that the incoming tide forced the pilot to takeoff close to brush at the upper side of the beach. During the takeoff roll the left wingtip struck a tree stump, and about four feet of the left wing and the left aileron separated. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N800DF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N800DF), registered now, S/N 20700621, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 207 - Registry model: [Cessna 207A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207a) (registry code 2073605) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520-F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-f) (registry code 17237, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 207-00621 - Airframe hours: 8234 - Engines: Continental IO-520F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Clearwater Air, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 13, 1999, 80 hours before - Departed: CHINITNA BAY, AK - Destination: SXQ, SOLDOTNA, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,300 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 4,200 as pilot in command, 350 in the last 90 days, 127 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 10 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °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 19990903025559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990903025559A), Sep 3, 1999: Cessna 207, Ninilchik, AK, Substantial damage. (.19) On September 3, 1999, about 1930 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 207 airplane, N800DF, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a tree stump… ## Other investigations on N800DF (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 ANC12CA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA019), Jan 23, 2012: Cessna 207A (N800DF), Nikiski, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper identification of the runway surface. Contributing to the accident was the snow covering the runway lights. 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.