RUSSIAN MISSION, AK, USA
N7329U
CESSNA 207A
THE COMMERCIAL AIR TAXI PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER WERE UNINJURED FOLLOWING A FORCED LANDING. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE HAD FLOWN OVER HIS INTENDED LANDING SITE AT RUSSIAN MISSION, AK., TO INSPECT THE RUNWAY. ON THE DOWNWIND LEG, THE ENGINE OF CESSNA 207 LOST MOST OF ITS POWER. HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTORE SUFFICIENT POWER TO REMAIN AIRBORNE AND ELECTED TO LAND ON THE NEARBY, FROZEN, YUKON RIVER. HE SAID THAT HE MISJUDGED HIS ALTITUDE DURING THE LANDING APPROACH DUE TO THE FEATURELESS, ALL WHITE SURFACE OF THE RIVER, AND STRUCK THE SURFACE WHILE STILL IN A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN. INSPECTION OF THE CRASH SITE TWO DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED NUMEROUS ICE CRYSTALS IN THE LEFT FUEL TANK SUMP. NO OTHER OBVIOUS ABNORMALITIES WERE NOTED. IT IS UNKNOWN IF THE ICE CRYSTALS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANK WERE CONTRIBUTORY TO THE ACCIDENT DUE TO THE LENGTH OF TIME BETWEEN THE SAMPLE AND THE ACCIDENT.
THE PARTIAL ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING BY FLYING AT A TRAFFIC PATTERN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT TO INSURE A SAFE EMERGENCY LANDING EITHER ON OR OFF THE AIRPORT AND HIS MISJUDGEMENT OF CLEARANCE ABOVE THE FROZEN RIVER.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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