Kwigillingok Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kwigillingok, Alaska 99622
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 16:57 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Passengers reported that prior to departing on the accident flight they observed ice on the wings and described the weather as foggy, with freezing rain. Shortly after takeoff, at an estimated 200 feet above the ground, the pilot reported a series of power fluctuations, coinciding with a loss of altitude. The pilot stated that he engaged the emergency power lever, and that power was restored, but not before the airplane collided with a frozen lake, damaging the right wing. The airplane subsequently became airborne, and the pilot elected to fly to another village to land. A postaccident inspection disclosed no mechanical anomalies with the engine or its accessories, and the airplane was flown to its base after the wing was repaired without any engine problems noted. A weather study by a Safety Board meteorologist determined that the area was subject to light snow showers, freezing fog and mist, and surface temperatures below freezing, all conducive to wing/airframe icing. During an interview with Federal Aviation Administration inspectors, the pilot acknowledged seeing “a trace of ice” on the wings. The limitations section of the airplane's flight manual supplement "Known Icing Equipment," states, in part: "Takeoff is prohibited with any frost, ice, snow, or slush adhering to the wings, horizontal stabilizer, vertical stabilizer, control surfaces, proper blades, or engine inlets." The limitations section also includes the following: "WARNING, EVEN SMALL AMOUNTS OF FROST, ICE, SNOW OR SLUSH ON THE WING MAY ADVERSELY CHANGE LIFT AND DRAG. FAILURE TO REMOVE THESE CONTAMINANTS WILL DEGRADE AIRPLANE PERFORMANCE AND MAY PREVENT A SAFE TAKEOFF AND CLIMBOUT."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's decision to take off with ice-contaminated wings in freezing rain and mist, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/17/2010
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1657
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City Kwigillingok
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99622
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 595235N
Event Location Longitude 1631007W
Event Location Airport Kwigillingok Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GGV
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 18
Weather Briefing Completeness --
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 AST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -5
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.67
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 8
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27849
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 5 2010 11:13AM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N207DR
NTSB Number ANC10LA019
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 208B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 208B0859
Certified Max Gross Weight 8550
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 11
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Feb 11 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 49
Airframe Hours 6994
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name DESERT ROSE AVIAITON LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1733 KODIAK CIR
Aircraft Owner City RENO
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89511-3012
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Grant Aviation
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 4451 Aircraft Drive
Operator City Anchorage
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99509
Operator Code ENHA
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code GGV
Departure City Kwigillingok
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1655
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code AKI
Destination City Kipnuk
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 5 2010 11:13AM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 33
Runway Length 2510
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --