Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Port Alsworth, Alaska 99653
Monday, March 8, 1993 15:30 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE NON INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE ENTERED WHITEOUT CONDITIONS CAUSED BY BLOWING SNOW SHORTLY AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE AND UNINTENTIONALLY ALLOWED THE PLANE TO DESCEND AND COLLIDE WITH THE FROZEN SURFACE OF THE LAKE. THE PILOT FURTHER REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW (BFR) OR FLIGHT MEDICAL AND THAT HE DID NOT RECALL HAVING RECEIVED INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO EXECUTE A 180 DEGREE CHANGE OF DIRECTION TURN USING ONLY THE BASIC (PARTIAL PANEL) FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE NON INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT IN COMMAND ENTERING INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SNOW/WHITEOUT CONDITION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/8/1993
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City PORT ALSWORTH
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99653
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 503
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 8 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 51226
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:10PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9737G
NTSB Number ANC93LA041
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 180H
Aircraft Series Identifier 180H
Aircraft Serial Number 18052237
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 1 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 127
Airframe Hours 2400
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HORNBERGER, CHARLES G.
Aircraft Owner Street Address GENERAL DELIVERY
Aircraft Owner City PORT ALSWORTH
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99653
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HORNBERGER, CHARLES G.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address GENERAL DELIVERY
Operator City PORT ALSWORTH
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99653
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1515
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City KOKSETNA LODGE
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --