Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Deadhorse, Alaska 99734
Friday, December 22, 2000 14:15 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The air taxi pilot made one attempt to land at a remote airstrip located at an oil production camp close to the Arctic Circle. The pilot was unable to locate the runway, and radioed the camp that the weather was poor. A passenger noted the pilot entered the clouds while he was circling in the vicinity of the camp. The pilot subsequently flew to an airport about 50 miles away, completed an instrument approach due to less than VFR weather conditions, refueled, and made another attempt to locate and land at the remote site. The pilot told the passengers that he would make one more attempt at landing, but if unsuccessful, they would have to leave, as it would soon be dark. During the approach to landing, the pilot stated he inadvertently entered clouds, or fog, and collided with a snow-covered hill. A passenger in the right-front seat indicated the pilot started a descent about five miles from the airstrip, and that he could not see the ground until just before impact. Prior to his second landing attempt, the pilot radioed camp personnel that the weather was still poor, but he would make another try. The airplane crashed on snow-covered terrain about five miles from the airstrip.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors associated with the accident were clouds, fog, dusk light conditions, and the pilot's self-induced pressure to complete the flight prior to nightfall.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/22/2000
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1415
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City DEADHORSE
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99734
Event Date Year 2000
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1336 Atlantic Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 105
Weather Observation Facility ID SCC
Elevation of weather observation facility 61
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 50
Time Zone of the weather observation AST
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1097
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 22 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jul 10 2001 4:15PM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N63MB
NTSB Number ANC01LA027
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-31-350
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-31-350
Aircraft Serial Number 31-7852417
Certified Max Gross Weight 7368
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 4
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Nov 13 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 23
Airframe Hours 5686
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WRIGHT AIR SERVICE
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 60142
Aircraft Owner City FAIRBANKS
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99706
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code HYTA
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 Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code SCC
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1339
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City KAVIK
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 3 2001 4:08AM
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 --