Bird strike Accident Cessna 207 N9973M, Wednesday 25 July 2001

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Date:	Wednesday 25 July 2001
Time:	14:10 LT
Type:	Cessna 207
Owner/operator:	Grant Aviation Inc
Registration:	N9973M
MSN:	20700771
Year of manufacture:	1984
Total airframe hrs:	19657 hours
Engine model:	Continental IO-520300
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Kalskag, AK - United States of America
Phase:	Initial climb
Nature:	Unknown
Departure airport:	Kalskag Municipal Airport, AK (KLG/PALG)
Destination airport:	EMMONAK, AK (ENM)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The air taxi pilot was departing a small village airport in rural Alaska when the left wing collided with a tree. According to the company's director of operations, the pilot originally reported the accident as in-flight collision with a bird, but it was learned later that it was a tree. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.

Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from an object during the initial climb after takeoff.

Accident investigation: