Cessna 207A accident near Newtok, Alaska, May 4, 2013
On May 4, 2013 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Cessna 207A, registered N9400M, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Newtok, Alaska (Newtok airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's continued flight into adverse weather and his failure to maintain clearance from terrain while on approach in flat light conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's delayed decision to initiate a go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 2013 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Newtok, Alaska · Newtok · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 207A · all 207As on the register
- Registration
- N9400M · no longer on the register · serial 20700687
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a scheduled commuter flight reported that he was about 4 miles north of the destination airport and operating in VFR weather conditions. According to the operator, as the flight approached the airport, the visibility was reduced due to fog. The pilot then initiated a gradual descent over an area of featureless, snow-covered terrain, which made it difficult to discern any topographical terrain features due to flat light conditions. The operator reported that the pilot could see his destination airport in the distance but that, during the descent, he became “uncomfortable” with the approach, and he initiated a go-around. The airplane subsequently collided with a snow-covered frozen river, about 1 mile from the approach end of the airport, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. One of the passengers aboard the accident airplane wrote, in part, “I looked out the window to my right to see if I could see the airport and did not, it was too foggy.” The operator reported that the accident flight was the pilot’s second attempt to reach the destination airport that day. During the previous flight that morning, poor weather conditions prevailed, so the pilot returned to his departure airport to wait for weather conditions to improve.
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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Flat light › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Fog › Contributed to outcome
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,001 hours in all; 533 in this make and model; 167 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 1,728 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 24,472 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, April 20, 2013
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hageland Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: PABE Bethel AK at 3:45 pm
- Destination: PAEW Newtok AK
- Runway 33, 2,202 ft by 35 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,600 ft; scat at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from PAOO, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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 N9400M 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.