Sunday, June 18, 2017

Cessna 207 Stationair 7, N91170, registered to DIO Air LLC, and operated by Renfro's Alaskan Adventures Inc: Accident occurred June 17, 2016 near Goodnews Airport (GNU), Alaska

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

NTSB Identification: ANC16LA032 
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, June 17, 2016 in Goodnews Bay, AK
Probable Cause Approval Date: 08/28/2017
Aircraft: CESSNA 207, registration: N91170
Injuries: 1 Serious.

NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

During cruise flight through an area of mountainous terrain, the commercial pilot became geographically disoriented and selected the incorrect route through the mountains. Upon realizing it was the incorrect route, he initiated a steep climb while executing a 180° turn. During the steep climbing turn, the airplane inadvertently entered instrument meteorological conditions, and the airplane subsequently impacted an area of rocky, rising terrain. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. 

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot’s failure to select the correct route through the mountains as a result of geographic disorientation, and his subsequent visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in collision with terrain.

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Anchorage, Alaska 
Continental Motors; Mobile, Alabama
Textron Aviation; Wichita, Kansas

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Registered to DIO Air, LLC
Operated by Renfro's Alaskan Adventures, Inc

http://registry.faa.gov/N91170

NTSB Identification: ANC16LA032

14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, June 17, 2016 in Goodnews Bay, AK
Aircraft: CESSNA 207, registration: N91170
Injuries: 1 Serious.

NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On June 17, 2016, about 1200 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 207 airplane, N91170, sustained substantial damage after impacting steep, rising terrain about 8 miles northwest of the Goodnews Airport, Goodnews Bay, Alaska. The airplane was registered to DIO Air, LLC, and operated by Renfro's Alaskan Adventures, Inc., Bethel, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) repositioning flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed at the accident location, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight departed about 1020 from the Quinhagak Airport (AQH), Quinhagak, Alaska, destined for Goodnews Airport (GNU).

During an interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge on June 19, in Anchorage, Alaska, the pilot stated that after departing AQH, and as the flight progressed into an area of mountainous terrain, low clouds inhibited his ability to distinguish the correct route through the mountains from the incorrect route. When he discovered he had chosen the incorrect route, he was in an area that was too narrow and steep to safely turn around. In an effort to reduce his turning radius and avoid the rising terrain ahead, he initiated a steep climb while turning the airplane 180 degrees. During the steep climbing turn, the airplane entered IMC, and the airplane subsequently impacted an area of rock-covered rising terrain. He estimated the cloud ceilings to be about 800 feet mean sea level (msl) and his cruise altitude was about 700 feet msl before initiating the climbing turn.

The closest weather reporting facility is Platinum Airport, about 14 southwest of the accident site. At 1156, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) from the Platinum Airport was reporting in part: wind from 210 degrees at 12 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; temperature 48 degrees F, dewpoint 45 degrees F; altimeter 29.85 inHg.

The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions of anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.



NTSB Identification: ANC16LA032
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, June 17, 2016 in Goodnews Bay, AK
Aircraft: CESSNA 207, registration: N91170
Injuries: 1 Serious.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On June 17, 2016, about 1200 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 207 airplane, N91170, sustained substantial damage after impacting steep, rising terrain about 8 miles northwest of the Goodnews Airport, Goodnews Bay, Alaska. The airplane was registered DIO Air, LLC, and operated by Renfrow's Alaskan Adventures, Inc., Bethel, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) repositioning flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed at the time of the accident, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight departed about 1020 from the Quinhagak Airport (AQH), Quinhagak, Alaska, destined for Goodnews Airport (GNU). 

During a hospital room interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge on June 19, in Anchorage, Alaska, the pilot stated that after departing AQH, and as the flight progressed into an area of mountainous terrain, low clouds inhibited his ability to distinguish the correct route through the mountains from the incorrect route. When he discovered he had chosen the incorrect route, he was in an area that was too narrow and steep to safely turn around. In an effort to reduce his turning radius and avoid the rising terrain ahead, he initiated a steep climb while turning the airplane 180 degrees. During the steep climbing turn, the airplane entered IMC, and the airplane subsequently impacted an area of rock-covered rising terrain. He estimated the cloud ceilings to be about 800 feet mean sea level (msl) and his cruise altitude was about 700 feet msl before initiating the climbing turn.

The closest weather reporting facility is Platinum Airport, about 14 southwest of the accident site. At 1156, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) from the Platinum Airport was reporting in part: wind from 210 degrees at 12 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; temperature 48 degrees F, dewpoint 45 degrees F; altimeter 29.85 inHg.

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