What happened
On April 28, 2025, at approximately 1355 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna T207, registration N91025, was involved in an accident near Nanwalek, Alaska. The aircraft, operated by Smokey Bay Air as a scheduled Part 135 commuter flight, was traveling from Homer Airport to Nanwalek Airport carrying 40 gallons of fuel, 271 lbs of baggage, and 257 lbs of mail.
ADS-B data indicates the aircraft departed Homer, crossed Kachemak Bay, and approached Runway 19 at Nanwalek from the north. During the approach, the aircraft momentarily moved to the right of the runway centerline before performing a left turn once parallel to the approach end of the runway. The final ADS-B data point recorded the aircraft at approximately 100 feet above ground level.
Witnesses on the ground reported seeing the airplane approach the runway from over the village. They observed the pilot increase throttle and enter a steep left bank near the north end of the airport, after which the aircraft lost control and spiraled into the ground. Some witnesses noted a dog on the runway during the final approach. Additionally, a pilot flying a second Smokey Bay Air aircraft trailing the accident plane reported hearing the pilot of N91025 state over the radio, "I’m going around, there’s something on the runway," immediately before the accident.
A surviving passenger confirmed that the aircraft was offset to the right of the centerline and entered a sharp, steeper-than-normal left bank before spiraling to the surface.
The aircraft came to rest on a beach approximately 350 ft northwest of the approach end of Runway 19. The impact resulted in 2 fatal injuries and 1 serious injury.
The investigation
Upon recovery, the wreckage showed that the left wing had separated from the fuselage and was held only by control cables. The right wing showed deformation consistent with impact. Both the nose and the aft section of the fuselage exhibited damage consistent with rotational forces during impact.
Physical examination of the aircraft revealed:
- The flap selector was in the full down position.
- The three propeller blades showed rotational signatures.
- No preimpact anomalies were visually observed in the flight control system.