Cessna 207 accident near Healy, Alaska, August 3, 2001
On August 3, 2001 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Cessna 207, registered N9794M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Healy, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's continued flight into adverse weather conditions after becoming lost/disoriented. Factors in the accident were rising terrain, a blind/box canyon, low clouds, and rain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 2001 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Healy, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 207 · all 207s on the register
- Registration
- N9794M · registry record · serial 20700730
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certificated commerical pilot was flying the second airplane in a flight of two airplanes, within an area of mountainous terrain. Shortly after takeoff he lost sight of the first airplane, but was able to maintain radio contact. As the flight progressed, it began to rain, accompanied by diminished visibility and low ceilings. He then became disoriented to his exact position, and he mistakenly turned into a small valley. The pilot said that once he entered the valley, the terrain began rising, so he initiated a climb. The valley became too narrow to turn around, and the clouds began to close around the airplane as he continued to climb. The terrain continued to rise, and he noticed his airspeed was decreasing. Shortly thereafter, the airplane collided with rising terrain, and sustained substantial damage.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,762 hours in all; 245 in this make and model; 329 in the last 90 days; 120 in the last 30 days; 2,634 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 26, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,438 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 21, 2001; 60.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Denali Air Taxi, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: HRR Healy AK at 3:50 pm
- Destination: AK06 Denali Airstrip AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 0.2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N9794M the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.