# NTSB GAA17CA388: Cessna 207, N9620M, Hope, AK, July 3, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 3, 2017, 10:32 local (18:32 UTC) - Place: Hope, AK - Coordinates: 60.456111, -150.029449 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.4561&lon=-150.0294&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95508 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA388 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95508/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95508 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA388 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions and subsequent controlled flight into terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: low visibility](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015/cases.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 175 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: clouds](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035025/cases.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035025/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 392 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was flying the second airplane in a flight of two about 1 mile behind the lead airplane. The lead airplane pilot reported to him, via the airplane's radio, that he had encountered decreasing visibility and that he was making a 180° left turn to exit the area. The pilot recalled that, after losing sight of the lead airplane, he made a shallow climbing right turn and noticed that the terrain was rising. He recalled that he entered the clouds for a few seconds and "at that moment I ran into the trees which I never saw coming." The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the temperature was 60°F with 8 miles visibility and 1,500-ft ceilings. The nearest METAR was about 1 mile away and reported that the temperature was 54°F, dew point was 52°F, visibility was 8 statute miles with light rain, and ceiling was broken at 500 ft and overcast at 1,500 ft. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he was flying the second airplane in a flight of two, about one mile behind the lead airplane. The lead airplane pilot reported to him, via the airplane's radio, that he encountered decreasing visibility, and that he was making a 180° turn to the left to exit the area. The pilot recalled that after losing sight of the lead airplane, he made a shallow climbing turn to the right and noticed that the terrain was rising. He recalled that he entered the clouds for a few seconds and, "At that moment I ran into the trees which I never saw coming." The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the temperature was 60° Fahrenheit with 8 miles visibility and 1,500-foot ceilings. The nearest METAR was about 1 mile away and reported that the temperature was 54° Fahrenheit and the dew point was 52° Fahrenheit. The visibility was 8 statute miles with light rain. The ceiling was broken at 500 feet and overcast at 1,500 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9620M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9620M-2019-10-05), registration cancelled 2019-10-05, S/N 20700711, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 207 (A) - 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: 20700711 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 23833.1 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Alaska Air Taxi LLC - Registered owner: Alaska Air Taxi LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Paso, SELDOVIA, AK - Destination: Z41, Anchorage, AK - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 16, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,365 total, 3 in this make and model, 5,247 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 7 knots - Lowest ceiling: 500 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 52 °F - Observed at: PANC, 1 nm away ## 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 20170703010789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170703010789A), Jul 3, 2017: Cessna 207A, Trapper Joe Lak, AK, Substantial damage. N9620M is a 1981 Cessna 207, registered to Alaska air taxi located at lake hood, AK. 7-5-2017: Interview with Alaska air taxi chief pilot (cp): cp said that… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95508. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457798&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457799&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 311 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457800&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.