Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Almautlak, Alaska 99559
Friday, March 16, 1990 14:35 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE CRASHED SHORTLY AFTER TRANSITIONING FROM VFR TO IFR CONDITIONS, AND RECEIVING AN IFR CLEARANCE TO THE FINAL APPROACH FIX FOR ILS/DME RUNWAY 18 AT BETHEL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE BECAUSE OF SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS PREVAILING AT THE TIME WERE FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/16/1990
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1435
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City ALMAUTLAK
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99559
Event Date Year 1990
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 131
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
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 500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Heavy
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) 737
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 16 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1510
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41775
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:49PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8290T
NTSB Number ANC90FA039
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32-301
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-301
Aircraft Serial Number 32-8106005
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 2 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 142
Airframe Hours 1910
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NORTHWIND AVIATION, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6700 E STATE BLVD
Aircraft Owner City FT. WAYNE
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46815
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ARCTIC CIRCLE AIR SERVICE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P. O. BOX 190228
Operator City ANCHORAGE
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99519
Operator Code ACSA
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code Z09
Departure City KASIGLUK
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1325
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BET
Destination City BETHEL
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 --