Cessna 207 accident near Newtok, Alaska, February 25, 2018
On February 25, 2018 at about 10:20 pm local time, a 1974 Cessna 207, registered N1658U, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Newtok, Alaska (Newtok airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to properly check that the flight controls were correctly configured before takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 2018 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Newtok, Alaska · Newtok · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 207 UNDESIGNAT, built 1974 · all 207s on the register
- Registration
- N1658U · registry record · serial 20700258
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during a return flight, he chose to fly from the right pilot seat to allow a cargo-handler to sit in the left pilot seat. The taxi to the runway was short and required little rudder input. However, during takeoff, as he added power, he "did not seem" to have full right rudder authority, and he was unable to maintain the runway centerline. Subsequently, the airplane exited the left side of the runway, struck a small ridge, and came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The pilot further reported that, after the accident, he realized the airplane had stowable rudder pedals on the right side and that they had been placed in the "stowed" position. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane 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
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Empennage structure › Rudder › Inadequate inspection
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, foreign licence
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 21,930 hours in all; 1,800 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 2,185 as pilot in command; 8,145 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 17, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Paklook Air
The flight
- Departed from: EWU Newtok AK
- Destination: BET Bethel AK
- Runway 33, 2,202 ft by 35 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 23 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,900 ft; a few clouds at 600 ft
- Temperature: 10°F (-12°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.68 inHg
- Observation at 10:26 pm from PAVA, 45 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N1658U 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.