Accident
On September 15, 2024, about 2204 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 207 airplane, registration N90193, was destroyed when it struck rising terrain near St. Mary's, Alaska. The pilot and three passengers sustained fatal injuries. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to the operator, Yute Commuter Service, the airplane was being used by two employees for a personal hunting trip. The accident pilot was the assistant chief pilot for the operator; the other occupants included another company pilot, a former company pilot, and a fourth passenger. The group intended to fly from Bethel Airport (BET) to St. Mary's Airport (KSM) for a moose hunt.
Flight Tracking
Data from the operator's flight tracking service showed that the airplane departed BET about 2108 and flew northwest toward KSM at altitudes between 500 and 800 ft above ground level (agl). At 2159, the airplane was about 4 nautical miles southeast of KSM at approximately 180 ft agl over the Yukon River. It continued north, overflew the west side of runway 6/24, then maneuvered west of the airport. The airplane executed a left 180° turn and overflew runway 6/24 at about 200 ft agl. It then turned right, proceeded south, and made a steep right descending turn toward the ground. The final recorded point was above the accident site.
Although the aircraft was equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS–B), no ADS-B data was received during the accident flight.
Air Traffic Control Communications
Archived Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control radio communications indicated that the pilot contacted the Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) when the airplane was about 10 miles southwest of KSM and requested a Special Visual Flight Rules (SVFR) clearance to enter the airport environment. The controller provided current weather and issued the clearance. At 2155, the controller instructed the pilot to switch to the KSM advisory frequency and report canceling the SVFR clearance upon landing. At 2235, about 25 minutes after the estimated arrival time, the controller attempted to contact the airplane with no response. An alert notice (ALNOT) was issued at 2300.
Weather Conditions
At 2156, KSM's automated weather reported wind from 280° at 13 knots, visibility 2.5 miles with light rain and mist, ceiling overcast at 300 ft agl, temperature and dew point 8°C, and altimeter setting 29.30 inches of mercury. Remarks indicated visibility varied between 1 and 5 miles, rain began at 2103, and hourly precipitation was 0.01 inches. Sunset occurred at 2110, and civil twilight ended at 2155.
Other Company Aircraft
Another company airplane on a scheduled Part 135 flight from BET to KSM arrived near KSM at 2128 but departed without landing, returning to Bethel. The pilot of that aircraft reported that weather conditions along the route fluctuated significantly. Visibility improved to 10 miles at one point but dropped to about 1.25 miles near KSM. After turning back, visibility at KSM increased to 4 miles, prompting another attempt. The pilot received a SVFR clearance but reported that visibility then decreased to 0.5 mile; he could see surrounding hills but not the runway environment. The runway 17/35 lights were inoperative, and the pilot could not activate or see the pilot-controlled lighting. He ultimately returned to Bethel.
Wreckage Examination
A senior National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge, an FAA airworthiness inspector, and a Textron Aviation investigator examined the wreckage on September 18. The on-scene examination revealed that the airplane impacted rising terrain in a right-wing-low, nose-low attitude on a northwest heading. The debris path was approximately 150 ft long and contained all major components. The wreckage was recovered and transported to Wasilla, Alaska, for further examination.