Cessna 207 accident near Akiachak, Alaska, August 13, 2001
On August 13, 2001 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Cessna 207, registered N562CT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Akiachak, Alaska (Akiachak airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's selection of a the wrong runway, which resulted in a tailwind for the takeoff attempt. Factors associated with the accident are a short takeoff area, a tailwind, and the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 2001 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Akiachak, Alaska · Akiachak · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 207 · all 207s on the register
- Registration
- N562CT · no longer on the register · serial 20700487
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The air taxi scheduled commuter pilot had six passengers and some cargo aboard. He attempted to takeoff from a 1,625 long gravel airstrip with nearly a direct tailwind of approximately 10 knots. Witnesses related that the airplane lifted off the runway twice, settled onto the runway, and eventually went off the end of the runway, coming to rest about 1,300 feet from the departure end. All witnesses, and the pilot, reported that the engine appeared to be operating normally and was at a high power setting. An Alaska State Trooper pilot landed shortly after the accident and spoke with the pilot and witnesses, including another air taxi pilot. The witnesses all said the accident pilot took off downwind. When the Trooper interviewed the pilot, he asked him how he determined the direction of the wind prior to takeoff. The Trooper said the pilot told him he looked at the windsock while on the ramp. The Trooper noted that the interview took place on the ramp, and the windsock was not visible from there due to high vegetation.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 998 hours in all; 295 in this make and model; 288 in the last 90 days; 132 in the last 30 days; 889 as pilot in command; 6 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 7, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,585 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 9, 2001; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PABE Bethel AK at 2:30 pm
- Destination: Z13 Akiachak AK
- Runway 29, 1,625 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
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.
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.