Swearingen SA-226T accident near Mccall, Idaho, April 1, 2007
On April 1, 2007, a Swearingen SA-226T, registered N46SA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mccall, Idaho (Mccall Municipal Airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The nosewheel steering system's uncommanded turn during the landing roll, making it impossible for the pilot to maintain directional control. Factors include a snow bank running parallel to the side of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 2007 · cases in 2007
- Place
- Mccall, Idaho · Mccall Municipal Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Swearingen SA-226T · all SA-226Ts on the register
- Registration
- N46SA · registry record · serial T231
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft's touchdown and rollout were uneventful until the pilot activated/engaged the nosewheel steering system to make a left turn off the runway. At that time, the aircraft suddenly veered to the right and departed the side of the runway. After the aircraft departed the runway, it encountered a four-foot-high snow bank, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. After the accident, the nosewheel steering system was examined and tested, and it was determined that the nosewheel was making uncommanded turns when the system was activated. The source of the system malfunction that lead to the uncommanded turns could not be positively identified.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,300 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command; 1,100 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,159 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 12,499 lb
- Seats: 11
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett-Airesearch D-10 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KPAE Paine Field WA at 10:15 pm
- Destination: KMYL Mccall ID
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 16, 6,107 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N46SA on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Swearingen SA-226 48 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Swearingen 88 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Garrett-Airesearch D-10 · as the NTSB recorded it
- MC Call Municipal · nearest airport
- Seattle Paine Field International · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Idaho 1,535 since 1982 · 288 in the last ten years
- Idaho 4,199 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/SEA07LA145.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.