Cessna 207 accident near Aniak, Alaska, April 5, 2003
On April 5, 2003 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 207, registered N207SE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aniak, Alaska. It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper fuel management, and subsequent fuel starvation during cruise flight. A factor contributing to the accident was unsuitable terrain for a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 2003 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Aniak, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 207 · all 207s on the register
- Registration
- N207SE · no longer on the register · serial 20700237
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial certificated pilot was conducting a cross-country maintenance test flight following a recent engine overhaul. The airplane's engine was recently installed by company maintenance personnel, and the pilot was putting flight hours on the engine. During the flight, the engine oil pressure was indicating about 50 psi. The pilot made a slight change in the engine rpm and manifold pressure settings, and the oil pressure rose rapidly to the top of the operating range. The engine cylinder and oil temperature readings did not change. The engine then lost power. The pilot switched the fuel selector from the left tank to the right tank and activated the engine boost pump. Engine power was not restored, and he switched the selector back to the left tank. The pilot indicated the engine sounded as if it were firing on all cylinders, but only at an idle. The pilot also reported that, "I do not know whether the left fuel tank was completely exhausted of fuel or not. The engine went from power to idle immediately, without any sputtering or coughing." During a forced landing, the airplane collided with trees. An FAA inspector traveled to the accident scene and examined the airplane. He reported that the left fuel tank was empty. The right fuel tank contained about 15 gallons of fuel. He found no evidence of fuel leaking, and the engine and propeller controls were properly attached. The inspector started the engine, but due to broken engine mounts, the engine was not operated above an idle, however throttle movement was applied enough to elicit an increase in rpm. The FAA inspector also reported that the operator sent the engine to a maintenance facility where it operated at full power on an engine test stand.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 15,000 in this make and model; 184 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hageland Aviation INC.
The flight
- Departed from: PASM St. Mary'S AK at 4:30 pm
- Destination: PANI Aniak AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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 N207SE 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.