Introduction
Two single-engine airplanes, a Cessna 208B and a Cessna 207, collided in flight during daylight visual meteorological conditions. The accident occurred while both aircraft were traveling eastward. The pilots had coordinated their flights via a prearranged radio frequency and agreed to meet in flight.
Sequence of Events
According to the Cessna 207 pilot, the two airplanes departed from neighboring remote Alaskan villages at approximately the same time and followed similar flight routes. During the flight, the pilots communicated on a discreet radio frequency and decided to meet up before returning to their home airport. The Cessna 207 pilot stated that while she was in level cruise flight at 1,200 feet mean sea level, the Cessna 208B pilot flew alongside the left side of her aircraft. They continued to talk via radio.
Unexpectedly and without announcement, the Cessna 208B pilot maneuvered his airplane above and over the top of the Cessna 207. The Cessna 207 pilot immediately told the Cessna 208B pilot that she could not see him and expressed concern about his location. The Cessna 208B pilot then said, in part: "Whatever you do, don't pitch up." Shortly thereafter, the Cessna 207 pilot saw the wings and cockpit of the descending Cessna 208B pass by the right side of her airplane, followed instantly by an impact with her airplane's right wing.
After the collision, the Cessna 208B passed underneath the Cessna 207 from right to left, then began a gradual descent that steepened as the airplane continued left. It entered a steep, vertical, nose-down descent and collided with the tundra-covered terrain, resulting in a postcrash fire. The Cessna 207, unable to maintain level cruise flight, was directed by its pilot to a forced landing on rolling tundra-covered terrain.
Examination
An examination of both airplanes revealed impact signatures consistent with the Cessna 208B's vertical stabilizer impacting the Cessna 207's right wing. A portion of crushed and distorted wreckage, identified as part of the Cessna 208B's vertical stabilizer assembly, was found embedded in the Cessna 207's right wing. The Cessna 208B's severed vertical stabilizer and rudder were located about 1,000 feet west of the Cessna 208B's crash site.