Cessna 207A accident near Pilot Station, Alaska, April 16, 2022
On April 16, 2022 at about 1:32 am local time, a 1980 Cessna 207A, registered N73503, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Pilot Station, Alaska (Pilot Station airport). It was a business flight 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 failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in crosswind conditions which resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 2022 · about 1:32 am local time
- Place
- Pilot Station, Alaska · Pilot Station · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 207A, built 1980 · all 207As on the register
- Registration
- N73503 · registry record · serial 20700599
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during takeoff, a crosswind pushed the airplane to the right. He aborted the takeoff and attempted to correct for the right drift to no avail. Subsequently, the airplane continued to the right, exited the runway, impacted a snowbank, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,405 hours in all; 297 in this make and model; 188 in the last 90 days; 73 in the last 30 days; 457 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 12, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 23,041 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 31, 2022; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-520-F (piston); 4,522 hours total
- Operator: Ryan Air INC
The flight
- Destination: PABE Bethel AK
- Runway 22, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; a few clouds at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.63 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from PASM, 12 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PASM 160154Z AUTO 15012G18KT 10SM RA FEW015 BKN020 OVC047 02/01 A2963 RMK AO2 WSHFT 0136 RAB40 P0001 FZRANO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 30, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N73503 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.