Narrative:
The Cessna Caravan I took off from Bethel runway 36 at 10:59 for a VFR flight to Kwigillingok (KWK). After departure, tower personnel observed the airplane in a left turn back toward the airport at an altitude of 100 to 200 feet above the ground. The angle of bank increased and the nose of the airplane suddenly dropped toward the ground. The airplane struck the ground in a nose and left wing low attitude, two minutes after departure.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane, while maneuvering to reverse direction after takeoff, after encountering an undetermined anomaly. The undetermined anomaly was a related factor."
Loss of control
accident date: 26-11-1996
type: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
registration: N4704B
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Tuesday 26 November 1996 |
| Time: | 11:01 |
| Type: |  Cessna 208B Grand Caravan |
| Operator: | Arctic Transportation Services |
| Registration: | N4704B |
| MSN: | 208B0199 |
| First flight: | 1991 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3711 |
| Cycles: | 5069 |
| Engines: | 1 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 1,6 km (1 mls) W of Bethel, AK ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Bethel Airport, AK (BET/PABE), United States of America |
| Kwigillingok Airport, AK (KWK/PAGG), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | 1604 |
The Cessna Caravan I took off from Bethel runway 36 at 10:59 for a VFR flight to Kwigillingok (KWK). After departure, tower personnel observed the airplane in a left turn back toward the airport at an altitude of 100 to 200 feet above the ground. The angle of bank increased and the nose of the airplane suddenly dropped toward the ground. The airplane struck the ground in a nose and left wing low attitude, two minutes after departure.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane, while maneuvering to reverse direction after takeoff, after encountering an undetermined anomaly. The undetermined anomaly was a related factor."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Cause undetermined Loss of control
Sources:
» NTSB id ANC97FA008Photos
accident date: 26-11-1996
type: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
registration: N4704B
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Bethel Airport, AK to Kwigillingok Airport, AK as the crow flies is 126 km (79 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Bethel Airport, AK to Kwigillingok Airport, AK as the crow flies is 126 km (79 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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