Cessna 207 accident near Bethel, AK
On May 30, 2015, a Cessna 207 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Bethel, AK. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 30, 2015
- Place
- Bethel, AK
- Aircraft
- Cessna 207 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 60.333°N, 161.054°W
- NTSB ID
- 20150601X02726
Official records · ANC15FA032
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Air Traffic Control Adsb Data: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn May 30, 2015, about 1130 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 207, N1653U, sustained substantial damage after impacting trees about 40 miles southeast of Bethel, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by Yute Air, Bethel, as a visual flight rules (VFR) post maintenance flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions were reported in the area of the accident, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The accident flight originated at the Bethel Airport about 0830, with an expected return time of 1200. About 1415, flight coordination personnel from Yute Air in Bethel notified the director of operations (DO) that the accident airplane was overdue. About 1435, the DO notified the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) who issued an alert notice (ALNOT). About 1532, an aerial search was initiated by Yute Air, Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Air National Guard, as well as other air operators and Good Samaritans. On May 31, about 1730, searchers discovered the airplane's submerged and fragmented wreckage in a swift moving river slough. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot, age 47, held a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane single and multi-engine land rating. The most recent second-class airman medical certificate was issued on April 14, 2015, and contained no limitations. According to company records, the pilot had about 7,175 total flight hours; about 6,600 flight hours were accrued in the accident airplane make and model. In the precedi
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain altitude, which resulted in collision with the terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment from carbon monoxide exposure in flight. The source of the carbon monoxide could not be determined because the wreckage could not be completely recovered.
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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.
