N1623UCessna 207 · 1973

On June 16, 2009, about 1620 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 207 airplane, N1623U, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing about 2 miles south of the Crooked Creek Airport, Crooked Creek, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by Bush-Tell, Inc., Aniak, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) other work use flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Of the three people aboard, the commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured, and one passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight originated at the Sleetmute Airport, Sleetmute, Alaska, about 1530, and company flight following procedures were in effect.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on June 17, the pilot noted that the purpose of the flight was to transport a crew of telecommunications technicians from Aniak to Sleetmute, then continue on to Crooked Creek before returning to Aniak later that evening. He said that the flight between Aniak and Sleetmute was uneventful, but noted that he had some difficulty starting the airplane’s engine before departing Sleetmute. He said that once the engine started, it operated without difficulty, and he departed for Crooked Creek.

As the flight approached the Crooked Creek Airport, the pilot said he saw a large rain squall moving over the airport, and he elected to remain south of the airport to allow time for the rain squall to move away from the airport. He reported that while maneuvering the airplane at 1,000 feet msl, all engine power was lost. After completing the emergency procedures for a loss of engine power, the pilot said he was unable to restart the engine, and he selected a marshy tree-covered site as a forced landing area. During the forced landing, the airplane collided with trees, and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings.

The airplane was equipped with a Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) IO-520 series engine. On July 27, 2009, at the direction and under the supervision of the NTSB IIC, an engine teardown and inspection was accomplished at B.J. Custom Aircraft Engines, Inc., Palmer, Alaska. The engine inspection revealed no preaccident mechanical anomalies.