Cessna T206H accident near Chickaloon, AK
On September 2, 2003, a Cessna T206H (airplane) was involved in an accident near Chickaloon, AK. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 2, 2003
- Place
- Chickaloon, AK
- Aircraft
- Cessna T206H · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 61.817°N, 147.634°W
- NTSB ID
- 20030910X01508
Official records · ANC03FA106
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Transcripts of Telephone and Radio Communications: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 2, 2003, about 1000 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Cessna T206H airplane, N72598, was destroyed by impact and postimpact fire when it collided with mountainous terrain while maneuvering, about 23.5 miles east-northeast of Chickaloon, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot and the two passengers received fatal injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident. A VFR flight plan was filed from Homer, Alaska, to Whitehorse, Canada. The flight originated at the Homer Airport, about 0752. At 0645, the pilot telephoned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Kenai Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) and filed a VFR flight plan. He stated, in part: "...departure point is Homer, proposed departure is 0800, altitude 5,500 feet (msl), route of flight is direct Potter Marsh (Anchorage, Alaska), direct Birchwood (Chugiak, Alaska), direct Palmer, then Gulkana, via Sheep Pass, Tahneta Pass, direct Northway, direct Whitehorse." He indicated the en route time as 4.5 hours, with 5.5 hours of fuel on-board the airplane. The route of flight specified by the pilot included terrain that went from sea level to mountainous, and generally followed Alaska Highway 1 through the mountains. The mountainous portion of the flight, where the accident occurred, is located between Palmer, Alaska, and Gulkana, Alaska, and traverses Tahneta Pa
Probable cause
The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and subsequent collision with mountainous terrain while maneuvering. Factors contributing to the accident were weather conditions consisting of clouds/mist and low ceilings, and the pilot's failure to obtain in-flight weather advisories before entering mountainous terrain.
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Browse: Alaska · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
