Accident of the Week

This week's Accident of the Week takes us to the remote Alaskan community of Tuntutuliak (identifier: A61). Here's another free geography lesson from The IFR Pilot: Tuntutuliak is located in southwestern Alaska, not far from Bethel:


As you will see in the report, this accident could have been avoided:

NTSB Identification: ANC07LA003
Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Accident occurred Friday, October 13, 2006 in Tuntutuliak, AK
Aircraft: Cessna 207, registration: N7336U
Injuries: 1 Minor.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On October 13, 2006, about 1512 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 207 airplane, N7336U, sustained substantial damage when it collided with the edge of a river embankment during the landing approach at the Tuntutuliak Airport, Tuntutuliak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country non-scheduled cargo flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Flight Alaska Inc., d.b.a. Yute Air Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Bethel Airport, Bethel, Alaska, about 1443.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on October 16, the director of operations for the operator reported that he interviewed several witnesses to the accident, and learned that the pilot was attempting to land on runway 20 at Tuntutuliak. The gravel surface runway is 1,772 long and 28 feet wide. The approach end of the runway is located at the edge of a river. The director of operations said the weather conditions in the area had been good VFR, but as the pilot was attempting to land, rain and mist moved over the area, reducing the visibility to about 1/4 mile. The airplane collided with the river embankment as the pilot was on his fourth landing attempt. The airplane received structural damage to the landing gear, fuselage and wings, and came to rest about 40 degrees to the left of the runway. The director of operations indicated that within 30 minutes of the accident, the weather conditions were once again VFR

By simply holding over the airport for 30 minutes, this pilot could have landed in VFR conditions instead of 1/4 mile visibility on his/her fourth attempt. Perhaps fuel was a concern, although the airplane had only been airborne for about 29 minutes at the time of the accident. (Bethel, the departure airport, is 36 miles northeast of Tuntutuliak.)

The pilot faced the additional challenge of a runway that is literally squeezed in between river banks. Here's the USGS topographic map showing the runway location:


Unfortunately, the Google Maps image of that location doesn't show much detail, but it gives you an idea:


There are numerous safety articles out there that caution against repeated approaches to the same airport. In other parts of Alaska, diverting to another airport might not be a realistic option. Here, the departure airport was only 36 miles away. Airnav.com reports that there are 4 other airports within about 50 NM.

Why try to force a square peg into a round hole? Either hold, or divert. This is one of those needless accidents.