Glacier Int'l Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kalispell, Montana 59901
Monday, December 31, 1990 10:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE CREW OF THE SA-227 COMMUTER AIRLINER LOST DIRCTIONAL CONTROL AFTER LANDING IN SNOW THAT WAS REPORTEDLY BETWEEN FIVE AND TEN INCHES DEEP. THE CREW HAD REQUESTED A SNOW-DEPTH REPORT, WHICH WAS RELAYED TO THEM BY AN AIRPORT SNOWPLOW OPERATOR, THROUGH THE AIRLINE'S OPERATIONS PERSONNEL. THE SNOW DEPTH HAD BEEN REPORTED AS ONE INCH AT THAT TIME. THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FLIGHT CREW'S INABLITY TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER LANDING IN SNOW-DEPTH CONDITIONS THAT HAD BEEN ERRONEOUSLY REPORTED AS BEING WITHIN OPERATING LIMITATIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/31/1990
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City KALISPELL
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59901
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GLACIER INT'L
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FCA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 2982
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1050 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID FCA
Elevation of weather observation facility 2972
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 600
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) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 15
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1161
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 31 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 949
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42486
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 5:37PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N385PH
NTSB Number SEA91LA040
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SWEARINGEN
Aircraft Model SA-227
Aircraft Series Identifier SA-227
Aircraft Serial Number AC-595
Certified Max Gross Weight 14500
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 21
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name UNKNOWN
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HORIZON AIRLINES
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 5515 NE TRANSPORT RD
Operator City PORTLAND
Operator State OR
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 97218
Operator Code QXEA
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 Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger/Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code GEG
Departure City SPOKANE
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 849
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code FCA
Destination City KALISPELL
Destination State MT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 2
Runway Length 8000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --