N36CFCessna 207 · 1974

On November 14, 2008, about 1710 Alaska Standard time, a Cessna 207 airplane, N36CF, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain while maneuvering for landing at Napaskiak, Alaska. The airplane was then consumed by a postcrash fire. The airplane was being operated as Flight 555 by Flight Alaska, dba Yute Air Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) commuter flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The commercial pilot received minor injuries, and the sole passenger was not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Quinhagak Airport, Quinhagak, Alaska, about 1625, and was en route to Bethel, Alaska.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on November 17, the director of operations for the operator reported that numerous flights from Bethel had been canceled or delayed due to poor weather earlier in the day. The weather improved in the afternoon with a ceiling of about 1,500 feet, and a visibility of 7 miles, and the pilot departed Bethel at 1452 for his first destination, Eek, Alaska. After departure, the pilot decided not to land at his first destination because of low visibility, and continued to Quinhagak. The pilot encountered light icing conditions while en route, and deiced the airplane after landing at Quinhagak.

The pilot departed Quinhagak with one passenger about 1625, and told the director of operations that the Bethel Airport was reporting a ceiling of 500 feet overcast, with a visibility of 5 miles. After departure, the weather at Bethel deteriorated, and the pilot decided to land at Napaskiak. While maneuvering over the Napaskiak Airport, the pilot began a descending left turn toward the approach end of runway 02. The airplane stalled and mushed to the ground, about 250 feet short of the runway threshold. It collided with tall brush and the ground, and a postcrash fire erupted as the pilot and passenger were exiting the airplane.

During a telephone conversation with the NTSB IIC on November 17, the pilot reported that when he arrived over the airport at Napaskiak, he was about 200 feet agl, and the visibility was about 1 mile. He indicated that the airplane had accumulated some ice. He said he began a left turn for the runway, but the left wing stalled, and the airplane mushed into the ground.

The closest weather reporting facility is Bethel, which is located about 5 miles northwest of the accident. At 1705, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) was reporting, in part: Wind, 190 degrees (true) at 8 knots; visibility, 3/4 statute mile in mist; clouds and sky condition, 500 feet broken, 1,600 feet broken, 2,900 feet overcast; temperature, 21 degrees F; dew point, 21 degrees F; altimeter, 29.79 inHg.