Cessna 207A accident near Tuluksak, Alaska, September 4, 2010
On September 4, 2010 at about 2:30 am local time, a Cessna 207A, registered N9942M, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Tuluksak, Alaska (Tuluksak airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's delayed application of full power during a soft/wet field takeoff, resulting in a collision with trees during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 2010 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Tuluksak, Alaska · Tuluksak · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 207A · all 207As on the register
- Registration
- N9942M · registry record · serial 20700756
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The director of operations for the operator stated that soft field conditions and standing water on the runway slowed the airplane during the takeoff roll. The airplane did not lift off in time to clear trees at the end of the runway and sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage when it collided with the trees. The pilot reported that he used partial power at the beginning of the takeoff roll to avoid hitting standing water on the runway with full power. After passing most of the water, he applied full power, but the airplane did not accelerate like he thought it would. He recalled the airplane being in a nose-high attitude and the main wheels bouncing several times before the airplane impacted the trees at the end of the runway.
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
What happened, in order
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Capability exceeded
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Soft › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Wet › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › (general) › (general) › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,545 hours in all; 245 in this make and model; 188 in the last 90 days; 83 in the last 30 days; 4,365 as pilot in command; 822 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 26, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 29,550 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, August 10, 2010
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Grant Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: TLT Tuluksak AK at 9:30 pm
- Runway 20, 2,461 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 094° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.57 inHg
- Observation at 9:30 pm from PABE, 31 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.