Wednesday, July 05, 2017

Cessna 207A, N9620M, Alaska Air Taxi LLC: Accident occurred July 03, 2017 in Hope, Alaska

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

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.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions and subsequent controlled flight into terrain. 

Findings

Personnel issues
Identification/recognition - Pilot (Cause)

Environmental issues
Low visibility - Effect on personnel (Cause)
Clouds - Effect on personnel (Cause)
Tree(s) - Effect on operation

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Juneau, Alaska

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
  
Alaska Air Taxi LLC: http://registry.faa.gov/N9620M

NTSB Identification: GAA17CA388
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, July 03, 2017 in Hope, AK
Aircraft: CESSNA 207, registration: N9620M
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

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.

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