Kipnuk, AK, USA
N6470H
Cessna 207
The commercial certificated pilot was conducting a VFR, Title 14, CFR Part 135, scheduled commuter flight, and was landing on a remote runway during dark night conditions. During the landing roll, the left main landing gear tire struck a snow berm located inside the runway edge lights, along the left edge of the runway, pivoting the airplane to the left. The right wing then struck snow-covered terrain, and received structural damage to the outboard end of the wing.
On January 7, 2007, about 1930 Alaska Standard time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 207 airplane, N6470H, sustained substantial damage during the landing roll at the Kipnuk Airport, Kipnuk, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as Flight 585, by Flight Alaska Inc., d.b.a. Yute Air Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country scheduled commuter flight, under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The commercial certificated pilot and the four passengers were not injured. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Chefornak Airport, Chefornak, Alaska, about 1915. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on January 7, the director of operations for the operator reported that the pilot was landing on runway 33 at Kipnuk. The runway is 2,120 feet long, and 35 feet wide. The left main landing gear tire struck a snow berm along the left edge of the runway, and the airplane pivoted to the left. The right wing then struck snow-covered terrain. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) submitted by the operator, the pilot reported that the snow berm on the runway was inside of the runway edge lights. The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Airport/Facility Directory, Alaska Supplement listing for the Kipnuk Airport, includes the following notation: "Airport Remarks - Unattended. Caution: Runway condition not monitored, recommend visual inspection prior to using." On January 19, the director of operations confirmed that the right wing of the airplane received structural damage to the outboard end of the wing.
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from terrain during the landing roll, which resulted in a collision with a snow berm with the left main landing gear, and subsequent damage to the right wing. Factors contributing to the accident were dark night lighting conditions, and a snow berm along the edge of the runway.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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