Summary
On March 01, 2002, a Cessna 207A (N7373U) was involved in an incident near Kotlik, AK. All 5 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain the proper glide path to the runway during the final approach for a VFR landing.
On March 1, 2002, about 1435 Alaska standard time, a Cessna 207A airplane, N7373U, sustained substantial damage during landing at the Kotlik Airport, Kotlik, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) scheduled domestic passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated as Flight 408, by Hageland Aviation Services Inc., Anchorage, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, and the four passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC02LA019. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N7373U.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain the proper glide path to the runway during the final approach for a VFR landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On March 1, 2002, about 1435 Alaska standard time, a Cessna 207A airplane, N7373U, sustained substantial damage during landing at the Kotlik Airport, Kotlik, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) scheduled domestic passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated as Flight 408, by Hageland Aviation Services Inc., Anchorage, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, and the four passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Mountain Village Airport, Mountain Village, Alaska, at 1338.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on March 1, the director of operations for the operator reported the pilot told him that he was on final approach for landing on runway 19 at Kotlik. The airplane was about 300 feet above the ground, with 15 degrees of flaps, and an airspeed of about 80 knots. The pilot said that the airplane's airspeed seemed too fast, so he reduced engine power. The airplane's airspeed then became too slow, so he increased engine power, but the airplane collided with terrain short of the runway threshold. The airplane received damage to the nose gear, propeller, and left wing.
Runway 19 at Kotlik has a gravel surface, and is 4,422 feet long, by 100 feet wide. The remarks section of the airport facility directory/Alaska Supplement for Kotlik states, in part: "Unattended. Runway condition not monitored, recommend visual inspection prior to landing. ...Runway 01-19 marked with reflective cones."
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC02LA019