Crash of a Cessna 207A Skywagon neat Twin Hills: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1997 at 1306 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N9984M
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Manokotak - Togiak
MSN:
207-0774
YOM:
1984
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
7470
Captain / Total hours on type:
1000.00
Aircraft flight hours:
14089
Circumstances:
The flight departed with 180 pounds of cargo after deplaning a passenger. Three company pilots overheard the accident pilot report that he was 13 minutes from his destination. The overdue aircraft was located by company airplanes about 700 feet MSL, on the east (downwind) side of an 890 feet msl pass. The airplane impacted on a 330 degree heading and perpendicular to the axis of the canyon/pass (oriented east-west), in a flat attitude, with no ground scars leading to the wreckage. No anomalies were found with the airplane, and all blades on the propeller exhibited torsional twisting and leading edge gouging. A westerly wind of seven to nine knots existed and numerous pilots reported the mountain passes were not obscured by clouds. Photographs from the pilot's camera depicted views of the accident canyon, with the pass and accident site above the altitude from which the photographs were taken. These photographs contained the date of the accident. Numerous depressant and stimulant, over-the-counter cold and asthma medications were found in the pilot's flight bag. Toxicological tests detected several over-the counter medications used for cold and asthma symptoms with illness effect of distraction or sensory disturbance. As a result of the condition for which the drugs were ingested may have also played a role in the accident.
Probable cause:
Improper in-flight planning/decision by the pilot, and his failure to maintain sufficient altitude over mountainous terrain. Factors related to the accident were downdraft conditions, mountainous/hilly terrain, and the use of over-the-counter medications.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 207A Skywagon in Belize City: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1997 at 0724 LT
Operator:
Registration:
V3-HFD
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
San Pedro – Belize City-International – Belize City-Municipal
MSN:
207-0676
YOM:
1981
Flight number:
9N010
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
1789
Captain / Total hours on type:
672.00
Aircraft flight hours:
11656
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft landed at the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport from San Pedro Airport, Ambergris Caye, with two passengers. The pilot remained in the aircraft on the apron while the two passengers disembarked. After receiving clearance from the Air Traffic Control Tower, V3-HFD, with no passengers, took off at 0720LT for the Belize City Municipal Airport. At 0722LT, the pilot reported by the Haulover Bridge and was instructed by ATC to change to frequency 122.8 MHz, which is the common broadcast frequency where pilots transmit their positions and intentions to each other. No further radio transmissions or distress calls were made to ATC after the pilot reported to Haulover Bridge. While approaching Belize City Municipal Airport at a very low altitude, the aircraft struck power cables and crashed onto a house located in the district Belama Phase 2, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found about 3 km southwest of runway 12 threshold. The pilot was killed and one people on the ground was injured. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
There is no evidence which permits the investigation to determine with certainty the actual cause of the accident. It is considered a reasonable deduction that the probable cause of the accident was that the aircraft became uncontrollable after hitting high voltage transmission lines due to the aircraft being flown at a low altitude.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 207A Skywagon in Nome: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1997 at 1633 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N207SP
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Brevig Mission - Nome
MSN:
207-0412
YOM:
1977
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
1745
Captain / Total hours on type:
200.00
Aircraft flight hours:
12771
Circumstances:
The flight was landing under special VFR conditions. Special VFR operations are permitted with a visibility of 1 mile, and clear of clouds. The airport was the pilot's base of operations. The flight had held outside the airport surface area for 26 minutes, waiting for a special VFR clearance. While outside the airport surface area, the pilot was required to maintain 500 feet above the ground and 2 miles visibility. While holding, the weather at the airport was reported as 300 feet overcast. The visibility decreased from 4 miles to 1 mile in mist. The pilot was new to the area of operations, having worked at the company for 24 days, during which he accrued 69 hours of flight time. Four minutes after receiving clearance to enter the surface area for landing, the airplane collided with a 260 feet tall radio antenna tower at 222 feet above the ground. The tower was located 3.85 nautical miles east of the airport. The radio tower was not considered by the FAA to be an object affecting navigable airspace, but was depicted as an obstruction on the VFR sectional chart for the area. The tower was equipped with obstruction lighting for night illumination, and was painted alternating aviation orange and white for daytime marking. One minute after the collision, the overcast was reported at 200 feet, and the visibility was 5/8 mile.
Probable cause:
The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and his failure to maintain adequate clearance from an obstruction (antenna tower). Factors in the accident were low ceilings and visibility, and the pilot's lack of familiarity with the geographic area.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 207A Skywagon in Nunapitchuk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1997 at 1123 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N800GA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Scammon Bay - Bethel
MSN:
207-0495
YOM:
1979
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2437
Captain / Total hours on type:
1136.00
Aircraft flight hours:
10193
Circumstances:
The pilot of Cessna 207A, N800GA, was returning to his company base, passing about 2 miles north of a remote airstrip that was along the route of flight. The airstrip did not have any control tower. [Communications around an uncontrolled airport are conducted on a common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF)]. The pilot of a Short SC7, N451SA, announced his departure from the same airstrip on the CTAF, and took off in a northerly direction. He then began a climbing right turn toward the same destination as the Cessna 207A was proceeding. The two airplanes collided in mid-air, about 1.49 nautical miles east-northeast of the airstrip, which was about 18.3 miles west of their destination. They were observed spiraling downward from about 800 ft above the ground. Both airplanes were found lying flat and upright on a frozen lake, entangled together at the accident site. The Cessna's burned wreckage was lying on top of (and positioned toward the aft third of) the burned wreckage of the Short SC7.
Probable cause:
Inadequate visual look-out by the pilots of both airplanes, which resulted in their failure to see-and-avoid each other's airplanes.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna T207A Skywagon near Littlefield: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1996 at 1939 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N6468H
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Grand Canyon - Saint George
MSN:
207-0532
YOM:
1979
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
23000
Captain / Total hours on type:
7.00
Aircraft flight hours:
10009
Circumstances:
The airplane was being positioned to another airport at night. The flight was over mountainous terrain. The airplane collided with the top of a 4,600-foot bluff. The pilot had a history of transient global amnesia. Examination of the accident site revealed a 567-foot long wreckage path, oriented along the direct course line from the departure point to the destination. Damage to the engine and propeller indicated that the engine was developing power at impact.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with terrain during descent for undetermined reasons. Contributing factors were the dark night and mountainous terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon in Kotzebue

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1996 at 1253 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N6282H
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kotzebue - Selawik
MSN:
207-0465
YOM:
1978
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1815
Captain / Total hours on type:
175.00
Aircraft flight hours:
15367
Circumstances:
The pilot was departing a remote airport to begin a VFR cargo flight. The departure path took the airplane over ice covered terrain. The airport was considered to be below basic VFR conditions with light snow and fog, and the visual conditions in the area were considered to be 'flat' with the visibility from 2 to 3 miles. The pilot received a special VFR clearance out of the control zone by a flight service station specialist. After departure, witnesses observed the airplane climb to an estimated 500 feet above the ground and turn to the right. Shortly thereafter, the airplane banked to the right about 90 degrees, then descended to the ground in a wing and nose low attitude. A postaccident inspection of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunction.
Probable cause:
Failure of the pilot to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance above terrain, after becoming spatially disoriented, while maneuvering after takeoff. Factors relating to the accident were: fog, snow, partial obscuration, 'flat' conditions of light, and the lack of a distinct horizon over ice/snow covered terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon in San José: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1996 at 1003 LT
Registration:
TI-AGP
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San José – Quepos
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from San José-Tobías Bolaños Airport, while climbing, the aircraft suffered an engine failure and stalled. It crashed in a field, bursting into flames. A passenger was killed while four other occupants were injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Cessna T207A Skywagon in San Diego

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1995 at 1318 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N91004
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wendover - San Diego
MSN:
207-0004
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
900
Aircraft flight hours:
2085
Circumstances:
The local controller instructed the pilot to go-around because of inadequate spacing in the traffic pattern. While executing the go-around, the engine lost power and the airplane crashed on a bridge after colliding with the guard railing about 1 mile from the airport. The wreckage examination showed that the fuel line between the engine driven pump and the fuel control servo was empty. The left main tank leaked for about 5 minutes; the right main fuel tank was not compromised and contained between 5 and 10 gallons of fuel. Both auxiliary fuel tanks were empty. The fuel selector valve was found selected between the right main fuel tank and the off position. There were no other engine or airframe anomalies found.
Probable cause:
The pilot's improper fuel management and improper use of the fuel selector valve.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon in Kodiak

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1995 at 1940 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N1769U
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Old Harbor - Kodiak
MSN:
207-0369
YOM:
1977
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3700
Captain / Total hours on type:
700.00
Aircraft flight hours:
11036
Circumstances:
The pilot was informed by another company pilot that the higher passes were closed. He then attempted to fly through 'high pass' located near old harbor. The pilot described the weather as overcast with ceilings obscured, and flight visibility was 2 to 3 miles. The pass was snow covered. As he entered the pass he lost visual reference due to whiteout conditions and he initiated a left turn to exit the pass. Approx half way through the turn the left wing struck the mountain.
Probable cause:
The pilot's continued flight into known adverse weather. The whiteout condition was a factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 207A Skywagon in Santa Cruz: 10 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1995
Registration:
CP-1947
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Santa Cruz – Santa Ana del Yacuma
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from El Trompillo Airport, while in initial climb, the single engine aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent, struck a tree and crashed onto several houses located in a populated area by the airport. Debris were found on a large area and all seven occupants were killed as well as three people on the ground. Five other people on the ground were injured.
Probable cause:
Loss of control following an engine failure for unknown reasons.