Cessna 207 N7340U

Summary

On 13 December 1994 at about 17:10 local time, a Cessna 207 registered N7340U was involved in an accident near Saint Mary's, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 December 1994 at 17:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Saint Mary's, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

62.0604, -163.2902

Aircraft

Cessna 207

Registration

N7340U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Mt. Village

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC95LA020

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CONTINUE VISUAL FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT ARE THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE FROM TERRAIN, AND THE WHITEOUT WEATHER CONDITIONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIR TAXI PILOT REPORTED HE DEPARTED ST. MARY'S AIRPORT WITH ONE PASSENGER ABOARD. HE SAID HE WAS FLYING ABOUT 600' AGL ALONG THE SOUTH BANK OF THE YUKON RIVER, WHEN OPPOSITE DIRECTION TRAFFIC REPORTED INBOUND TO ST. MARY'S, ALSO FLYING ALONG THE SOUTH BANK. THE PILOT SAID HE ELECTED TO TRANSITION TO THE NORTH BANK TO AVOID TRAFFIC, BUT SOON ENCOUNTERED DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS. HE SAID FORWARD VISIBILITY RAPIDLY DIMINISHED, AND HE ENTERED WHITEOUT CONDITIONS. WHILE TRYING TO KEEP VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE SHORELINE AND TREES, HE SAID HE INADVERTENTLY ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO DESCEND UNTIL IT STRUCK SNOW COVERED TERRAIN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.