Yakutat Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Yakutat, Alaska 99689
Thursday, July 29, 2004 10:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The operator of the Title 14, CFR Part 91 flight reported that during the takeoff roll, the aft cargo door opened and struck the fuselage, which resulted in substantial damage to several fuselage stringers. The operator noted that the pilot had opened the cargo door prior to the accident flight to load equipment. Postaccident inspection by the operator's maintenance personnel disclosed no mechanical problem with the door, and the operator reported the door could not be inadvertently opened when it was properly closed and latched.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, and his failure to secure the cargo door, which resulted in the cargo door coming open during the takeoff roll.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/29/2004
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone --
Event City Yakutat
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99689
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 593012N
Event Location Longitude 1393937W
Event Location Airport Yakutat
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PAYA
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 33
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
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 Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
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 None
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 --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16814
NTSB Notification Source Department of the Interior
NTSB Notification Date Aug 26 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 28 2004 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Anchorage, FSDO-03

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9178G
NTSB Number ANC04LA099
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model U206G
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number U20603803
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 19 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 67
Airframe Hours 5841
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name US Department of the Interior
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4405 Lear Ct.
Aircraft Owner City Anchorage
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99502
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Public Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code PAYA
Departure City Yakutat
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Dry Bay
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - roll/run
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Nov 5 2004 2:31PM
User who most recently changed record PETL
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 11
Runway Length 7745
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --