Bethel Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bethel, Alaska 99559
Friday, November 19, 2004 14:31 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

At the conclusion of the positioning flight, the airline transport certificated pilot exited the runway at a taxiway, and proceeded toward the ramp area of the airport. As he turned the airplane toward the parking area, a right quartering tailwind lifted the tail of the airplane, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane received damage to the left wing, the left wing strut, and the vertical stabilizer. A special weather observation at the airport was reporting, in part: Wind, 160 degrees (true) at 26 knots, gusts to 35 knots. The pilot indicated that his source of weather information was the Automated Terminal Information System (ATIS), and a "wind check" with the air traffic control tower. The pilot reported that the wind was 130 degrees (magnetic) at 22 knots, gusts to 27 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather conditions, and his inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent nose over during taxi from landing. A factor contributing to the accident was a tailwind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/19/2004
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1431
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City Bethel
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99559
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 604647N
Event Location Longitude 1615017W
Event Location Airport Bethel
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PABE
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 123
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1430 Atlantic Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID PABE
Elevation of weather observation facility 123
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation AST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 144
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 26
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 35
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.07
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17667
NTSB Notification Source Faa Regional Opertions
NTSB Notification Date Nov 20 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 935
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 8 2005 12:51PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9644G
NTSB Number ANC05LA015
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model U206F
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number U20601844
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Nov 12 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 22
Airframe Hours 8716
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Katmai Air Leasing LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4125 Aircraft Dr.
Aircraft Owner City Anchorage
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99502
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Katmai Air LLC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
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 ENFA
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PKA
Departure City Napaskiak
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1420
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code PABE
Destination City Bethel
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi - from landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record --
User who most recently changed record --
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --