Serpentine Hot Springs Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Shishmaref, Alaska 99772
Sunday, July 23, 1995 12:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS TAKING OFF FROM A SHORT, UPHILL RUNWAY TOWARDS RISING TERRAIN. TALL BRUSH BORDERED THE END OF THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY, BUT SOON ENCOUNTERED DOWNDRAFTS AND WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB. HE SAID THE STALL WARNING HORN WENT OFF, THE AIRPLANE SHUDDERED, AND THEN DESCENDED INTO TALL BRUSH. AN AVIATION MECHANIC WHO WENT TO THE SCENE SAID THE AIRPLANE'S FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH THE BRUSH WAS APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, AND THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN LANDING GEAR MADE TRACKS IN THE DIRT OF THE AIRSTRIP UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET FROM THAT INITIAL IMPACT POINT (APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET FROM DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY).

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE DOWNDRAFT. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE SHORT, UPHILL RUNWAY, AND DOWNDRAFTS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/23/1995
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone --
Event City SHISHMAREF
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99772
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SERPENTINE HOT SPRINGS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 400
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 18
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 6
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1266
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 2 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:23PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N75738
NTSB Number ANC95LA125
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 207
Aircraft Series Identifier 207
Aircraft Serial Number T20700641
Certified Max Gross Weight 3800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 20 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 26
Airframe Hours 8888
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GUSTAVUS DRAY
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 275
Aircraft Owner City JUNEAU
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99802
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BERING AIR
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 1650
Operator City NOME
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99762
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OME
Destination City NOME
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 9
Runway Length 1200
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --