Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kotzebue, Alaska 99752
Wednesday, July 9, 2003 9:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The operator reported that the captain left the cockpit while in cruise flight to inspect the cargo. While he was inspecting the cargo, the airplane encountered unforecast turbulence, and the captain fell, breaking his ankle. The first officer returned the airplane to the departure airport. The airplane was not damaged.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The airplane encountered unforecast turbulence, which resulted in serious injury to the pilot.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/9/2003
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone --
Event City Kotzebue
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99752
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 665308N
Event Location Longitude 1623555W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Abbreviated
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14137
NTSB Notification Source FAA Anchorage, ROC
NTSB Notification Date Jul 9 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2003 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Anchorage FSDO-03

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N410GV
NTSB Number ANC03LA071
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 208B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 208B0632
Certified Max Gross Weight 8750
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 10
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Jul 16 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 8200
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Gussic Ventures, LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO Box 220610
Aircraft Owner City Anchorage
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99522
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name HAGELAND AVIATION SERVICES INC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address PO Box 220610
Operator City Anchorage
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99522
Operator Code EPUA
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger/Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code PAQT
Departure City Kotzebue
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 830
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PAPO
Destination City Point Hope
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise - normal
Report sent to ICAO? Yes
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Nov 17 2009 5:06PM
User who most recently changed record grol
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --