Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 207 near Goodnews Bay, AK — 2016-06-17

Final reportANC16LA032
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Date
2016-06-17
Location
Goodnews Bay, AK, USA
Airport
GNU
Aircraft
CESSNA 207
Registration
N91170
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to select the correct route through the mountains as a result of geographic disorientation, and his subsequent visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in collision with terrain.

NTSB narrative

During cruise flight through an area of mountainous terrain, the commercial pilot became geographically disoriented and selected the incorrect route through the mountains. Upon realizing it was the incorrect route, he initiated a steep climb while executing a 180° turn. During the steep climbing turn, the airplane inadvertently entered instrument meteorological conditions, and the airplane subsequently impacted an area of rocky, rising terrain. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
VFR into IMC
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided entering IMC by not continuing into mountainous terrain.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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