Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mtn. Village, Alaska 99632
Tuesady, April 17, 2001 15:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private certificated pilot departed a remote airport on a VFR cross-country flight. The weather conditions in the area included low ceilings and snow showers. The pilot was flying along the north side of the Yukon River, and decided to cross to the south side due to concerns of colliding with any potential opposite direction aircraft. The frozen river was about one mile wide, and the pilot reported that the visibility was less than 1/4 mile. During the turn, the pilot entered a whiteout, lost visual contact with snow-covered terrain, and collided with the ground at a shallow angle. The airplane received damage to the fuselage, wings, and engine.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions while maneuvering. Factors in the accident were low ceilings, snow showers, whiteout conditions, and snow-covered terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/17/2001
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone --
Event City MTN. VILLAGE
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99632
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 620844N
Event Location Longitude 1635600W
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1455 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID PASM
Elevation of weather observation facility 311
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 19
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1200
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -25
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 203
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.88
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10569
NTSB Notification Source FAA REGIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER
NTSB Notification Date Apr 17 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1630
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Sep 26 2001 10:21AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office AL-ANC-FSDO-3

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6476H
NTSB Number ANC01TA047
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 207
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 20700536
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 27 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 18
Airframe Hours 6643
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STATE OF ALASKA, DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4827 AIRCRAFT DR.
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99502
Operator is an individual? No
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 --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Public Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code KOT
Departure City KOTLIK
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code MOU
Destination City MTN. VILLAGE
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 29 2001 3:59PM
User who most recently changed record RANS
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --