Background
On September 2, 2011, at about 1335 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 208B (registration N207DR) and a Cessna 207 (registration N73789) collided in midair approximately 9 miles north of Nightmute, Alaska. Both airplanes were operated as charter flights under 14 CFR Part 135 in visual meteorological conditions. The Cessna 208B was operated by Grant Aviation Inc., based in Anchorage, Alaska, and the Cessna 207 was operated by Ryan Air, also based in Anchorage. Visual flight rules (VFR) company flight following procedures were in effect for each flight.
The Cessna 208B, carrying a single airline transport pilot, departed from Toksook Bay Airport at about 1325. The Cessna 207, with a single commercial pilot, departed from Tununak Airport. Both aircraft were returning to Bethel Airport, Bethel, Alaska, where they were based. The two pilots had a close personal relationship, as independently reported by the chief pilot of Ryan Air and the director of operations of Grant Aviation to the NTSB investigator-in-charge.
Collision Sequence
According to the Cessna 207 pilot, after takeoff from Tununak, she communicated with the Cessna 208B pilot on a prearranged discreet radio frequency, and they agreed to meet up in-flight for the return to Bethel. While her aircraft was in level cruise flight at 1,200 feet above mean sea level, the Cessna 208B pilot flew his airplane along the left side of hers, and they continued radio communication. The Cessna 208B pilot then unexpectedly and unannounced climbed his airplane above and over the top of her airplane. She immediately informed him that she could not see him and expressed concern about his location. The Cessna 208B pilot responded with, in part: "Whatever you do, don't pitch up."
Moments later, she 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 207 pilot saw the Cessna 208B pass underneath her airplane from right to left, beginning a gradual descent that steepened as it continued left and away. She told the Cessna 208B pilot that she thought she was going to crash, and he replied, "Me too." She then watched as the Cessna 208B entered a steep, vertical, nose-down descent before colliding with the tundra-covered terrain below, with a postcrash fire starting immediately upon impact.
Aftermath
The Cessna 208B was destroyed, and a postcrash fire consumed most of the wreckage. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The Cessna 207 sustained substantial damage to its right wing from the collision. Unable to maintain level cruise flight and with limited roll control, the Cessna 207 pilot selected a forced landing site on rolling tundra-covered terrain about 2 miles east of the Cessna 208B’s accident site. During touchdown, the airplane’s nosewheel collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The Cessna 207 pilot was uninjured.