# NTSB SEA98LA157: Cessna U206F, N7494Q, Stanley, ID, August 7, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 7, 1998, 07:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Stanley, ID - Coordinates: 44.259803, -114.970008 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2598&lon=-114.9700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 11, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43713 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA98LA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43713/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA157 ## Probable cause The pilot-in-command's not lowering flaps prior to takeoff and overload of the nose landing gear. Contributing factors were high density altitude conditions and high brush. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - lowering of flaps - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - landing gear,nose gear - overload (cause) ## Analysis The pilot-in-command reported that 'I had tried to take off with no flaps, thinking I had them down.' The aircraft never became fully airborne, passed through a perimeter fence and then collided with sagebrush during which the nose landing gear collapsed. Post crash examination of the aircraft revealed the flaps in the retracted position. The density altitude at the 4,300 foot long, turf airstrip was 7,325 feet. ## Factual narrative On August 7, 1998, approximately 0730 mountain daylight time, a Cessna U206F, N7494Q, registered to and being operated by Stanley Air Taxi, Inc., and being flown by a commercial pilot, incurred substantial damage when it departed runway 17, and the nose landing gear collapsed on takeoff at the Stanley airport, Stanley, Idaho. The pilot and all five passengers were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company VFR flight plan was in effect. The flight, which was an unscheduled passenger flight from Stanley to Indian Creek, Idaho, was to have been operated under 14CFR135. The pilot reported that "On the take-off roll, I used the left side of the runway in the grass, since the middle had become rough from use. At about 2,000 feet down the runway, the plane hit a bump that put it into the air, but it settled back to the ground. I then applied elevator to lift it off. The plane hit another bump, lifted off the runway, the right wing dipped, I corrected, the plane again settled back onto the runway, and veered off the runway and through the east fence (at about 3,000 feet down the strip). The plane was on all 3 wheels for a short distance, until it hit a large sage brush and collapsed the nose gear. The plane then went nose down and stopped." Additionally, he reported that "In my own mind, I had put the flaps down on the C206 for take-off. They were not down. I had tried to take off with no flaps, thinking I had them down. (I believe I was distracted.) The plane did not have the speed nor lift when I rotated it. Proper check list utilization would have prevented the accident." On site examination of the aircraft at the site revealed that the flaps were in the retracted position (refer to photograph 1). The elevation of the Stanley airport is 6,403 feet above mean sea level. Runway 17 is 4,300 foot long and composed of turf. The pilot estimated the temperature at the time of the accident as 55 degrees Fahrenheit and reported an altimeter setting of 30.20 inches mercury. The calculated density altitude based on this information was 7,325 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7494Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7494Q-1999-06-09), registration cancelled 1999-06-09, S/N U20602224 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna U206F - Registry model: [Cessna U206F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206f) (registry code 2073333) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U20602224 - Airframe hours: 7595 - Engines: Continental IO-520-F(9) 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Stanley Air Taxi, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: AAIP, July 25, 1998, 30 hours before - Departed: 2U7 - Destination: S81, INDIAN CREEK, ID - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: 2U7, Stanley, runway 17, 4,300 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,227 total, 8 in this make and model, 1,144 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MYL, 63 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 19980807020039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980807020039A), Aug 7, 1998: Cessna U206F, Stanley, ID, Substantial damage. Air taxi had difficulty becoming airborne after takeoff, acft left the ground briefly, veered to the left, and went through a fence before stopping, (-23) the… ## Other investigations on N7494Q (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 SEA97LA205](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA205), Sep 7, 1997: Cessna U206F (N7494Q), Stanley, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate planning/decision for taking off in the meteorological conditions present at the time. Factors include a high density altitude, gusty winds, downdrafts, and soft terrain in the… 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.