Cessna U206F N51205

Summary

On 13 June 2005 at about 01:30 local time, a Cessna U206F registered N51205, operated by Mark W. Bills, was involved in an accident near Skwentna, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 June 2005 at 01:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Skwentna, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.8775, -151.5106

Aircraft

Cessna U206F

Registration

N51205

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Mark W. Bills

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Willow → Skwentna

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC05LA085

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's improper loading of externally carried lumber that caught fire due to exposure to hot exhaust gases during cruise flight, which resulted in an emergency descent/landing and subsequent collision with a gravel bar. A factor contributing to the accident was the operator's lack of FAA approval for the external lumber rack that was installed under the belly of the airplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial certificated pilot was on a 14 CFR Part 135 air taxi cargo flight transporting a load of plywood in an external rack that was attached to the belly of the fixed tricycle gear-equipped airplane. During cruise flight at 1,500 feet msl, he noticed the smell of smoke in the cockpit. He flew towards a river as flames entered the cabin of the airplane, and made an emergency landing on a gravel bar. He jumped from the airplane during the landing roll, and the airplane continued to roll until it struck a log and nosed over, with the fire still burning. Passing aircraft saw smoke in the area, and then spotted the airplane and the pilot in the river outside of the airplane. A helicopter pilot was nearby and responded to the scene. The pilot was airlifted to a local hospital by the helicopter pilot. According to the FAA, no records were found that the operator had an external load authorization. No records were found indicating that the airplane had a restricted category authorization for external loads, nor any authorization for installation of the external lumber rack.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.