Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mcgrath, Alaska 99627
Sunday, December 22, 1991 18:36 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF HALFWAY MOUNTAIN HEADING APPROXIMATELY 270 DEGREES AT THE 1600 FOOT LEVEL. THE ACCIDENT SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN TWO MILES OF THE INITIAL APPROACH FIX FOR THE LOCALIZER/DME RUNWAY 16 APPROACH AT MCGRATH. THE MEA FOR THE DME ARC IS LISTED AS 3600 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL. THE SECTOR OBSTRUCTION CLEARANCE ALTITUDE IS LISTED AS 3100 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL. WEATHER FOR THE AREA, AIRMET SIERRA, INDICATED THAT MOUNTAIN TOPS WOULD BE OBSCURED AND THAT CEILINGS WOULD OCCASIONALLY BE 1500 FEET BROKEN. THERE WERE REPORTS OF SNOWSHOWERS IN THE AREA OF SUFFICIENT INTENSITY THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW THE SEARCH AIRCRAFT TO FLY THROUGH THE SNOWSHOWERS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION AND HIS ATTEMPT TO FLY VFR THROUGH IMC CONDITIONS. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE SNOW, WHITEOUT CONDITIONS, AND DARKNESS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/22/1991
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1836
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City MCGRATH
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99627
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 12
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1750 Atlantic Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 40
Weather Observation Facility ID MCG
Elevation of weather observation facility 337
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
Time Zone of the weather observation AST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 5000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1800
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2189
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47399
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:53AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6390H
NTSB Number ANC92FA022
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 207
Aircraft Series Identifier 207
Aircraft Serial Number 20700507
Certified Max Gross Weight 3800
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 8
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Nov 27 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 43
Airframe Hours 11979
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MARKAIR, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4100 W. INTERNAT'L AIRPORT RD
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99519
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MARKAIR EXPRESS INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 6441 S. AIRPARK PLACE
Operator City ANCHORAGE
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99502
Operator Code HERA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 5NI
Departure City NIKOLAI
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1820
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MCG
Destination City MCGRATH
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 10:35AM
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 --