Cessna 206 N5297U

Summary

On 27 May 1998 at about 22:00 local time, a Cessna 206 registered N5297U, operated by Ward H. Sattler, was involved in an accident near Tyonek, Alaska, United States. 6 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 May 1998 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Tyonek, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.0808, -151.1597

Aircraft

Cessna 206

Registration

N5297U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Ward H. Sattler

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lime Village → Anchorage

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC98LA057

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's continued flight into adverse weather conditions, and his inadequate in-flight planning/decision. Factors in the accident were weather conditions consisting of a mountain wave, and downdrafts.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and five passengers departed eastbound from a rural airstrip for a cross-country flight across high mountainous terrain. He had flown along the planned route of flight numerous times in the past and obtained pilot reports of weather conditions in several mountain passes that traversed the mountain range along the planned route. The weather reports included wind speeds of 40 knots with turbulence. An area forecast included AIRMETs for mountain obscuration, turbulence in all mountain passes, and icing conditions. The pilot said he was aware of the potential for turbulence over the mountains and climbed the airplane to 13,500 feet. When the flight approached the lee side of the pilot's planned crossing point over the mountains, the airplane encountered severe downdrafts. The pilot applied full power, but the airplane continued to descend toward blowing snow along the mountain ridge. The pilot said he had no alternative but to land into a snow bank. The airplane collided with snow covered terrain at 10,500 feet msl. The airplane's belly mounted cargo pod, and the landing gear were torn off the fuselage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.