Cessna 207 N1658U

Summary

On 25 February 2018 at about 22:20 local time, a Cessna 207 registered N1658U, operated by Paklook Air, was involved in an accident near Newtok, 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

25 February 2018 at 22:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Newtok, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Newtok (EWU)

Coordinates

60.9383, -164.6403

Aircraft

Cessna 207

Registration

N1658U

Category

Airplane

Year built

1974

Engines

1

Operator

Paklook Air

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Newtok → Bethel

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA154

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to properly check that the flight controls were correctly configured before takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during a return flight, he chose to fly from the right pilot seat to allow a cargo-handler to sit in the left pilot seat. The taxi to the runway was short and required little rudder input. However, during takeoff, as he added power, he "did not seem" to have full right rudder authority, and he was unable to maintain the runway centerline. Subsequently, the airplane exited the left side of the runway, struck a small ridge, and came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The pilot further reported that, after the accident, he realized the airplane had stowable rudder pedals on the right side and that they had been placed in the "stowed" position. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.