Cessna 207 N36CF accident, Bethel, AK, Sep 17, 1999 · NTSB ANC99LA153

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain a visual lookout for a parked airplane during taxi.

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.

On ground/water collision with objectTaxi - to takeoff

Object - aircraft parked/standing

Visual lookout - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

Analysis

The commercial certificated pilot was starting to taxi from the company ramp to begin a positioning flight. As the airplane began to move from the ramp, the leading edge of the right wing struck a parked and unoccupied airplane. The right wing received damage that required the removal of the right wing leading edge from wing station 100 to 190, removal and replacement of a forward wing stringer, and installation of new leading edge wing skin.

Factual narrative

On September 17, 1999, about 1440 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 207 airplane, N36CF, sustained substantial damage after colliding with a parked airplane at the Bethel Airport, Bethel, Alaska. The accident airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules positioning flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Yute Air Alaska Inc., Anchorage, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 17, 1999, the company Director of Operations reported the pilot was starting to taxi from the company ramp. The pilot was positioning the airplane to Akiachak, Alaska, to begin an air taxi charter flight. As the pilot began to taxi away from the ramp, the leading edge of the right wing struck a parked and unoccupied, Cessna 207 airplane, N7594I.

On September 28, 1999, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations inspector, Anchorage Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), notified the NTSB IIC that the repair to the right wing entailed the following: Removal of the right wing leading edge from wing station 100 to 190, removal and replacement of a forward wing stringer, and installation of new leading edge wing skin.

Aircraft

Registration: N36CF
Reported as: Cessna 207
Category: Airplane
Serial number: 20700269
Airframe hours: 25,976
Engine: Continental IO-520-F, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Positioning · Part 91
Operator: Yute Air Alaska Inc.
Registered owner: M And M Leasing
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Last inspection: 100 hour · August 20, 1999 · 92 hours before
Destination: Z13 · Akiachak, AK
Flight plan: Company VFR
Airport: PABE · Bethel

N36CFRegistration cancelled May 7, 2012 · Cessna 207S/N 20700269 · Built 1974 Airframe modelCessna 207 Engine modelContinental IO-520 seriesReciprocating

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: 25
Certificate: Commercial
Airplane ratings: Single-engine land
Instrument ratings: Airplane
Medical: Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat: Left
Flight hours: 673 total · 40 in this make and model · 651 as pilot in command · 204 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind: 22° at 16 knots
Visibility: 10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: 4,600 ft broken
Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 48 °F
Altimeter: 28.00 inHg
Observed at: PAB

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19990917027779ACessna 207 · Bethel, AK(.19) On September 17, 1999, about 1440 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 207 airplane, N36CF, sustained substantial damage after colliding with a parked airplane at the Bethel Airport, Bethel, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual…Sep 17, 1999 · N36CF · Substantial damage

Other investigations on N36CF · 3

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC09LA012Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportNapaskiak, AKThe pilot's continued flight into adverse weather and icing conditions, and his failure to maintain sufficient airspeed to avoid a stall, resulting in a loss of control and in-flight collision with terrain while on an approach to land.Nov 14, 2008 · Substantial damage NTSB ANC05LA041Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportKipnuk, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in a departure from the runway and collision with a snow bank. A factor contributing to the accident was snow-covered terrain.Feb 16, 2005 · Substantial damage NTSB ANC94LA022Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportTuntutuliak, AKFailure of the pilot to maintain proper alignment during the takeoff roll. Factors related to the accident were: darkness and the snow berm along the edge of the runway.Dec 3, 1993 · Substantial damage