Nome Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Nome, Alaska 99762
Thursday, February 19, 2009 18:12 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The scheduled commuter flight was about 10 miles north of the destination airport, operating under a special visual-flight-rules clearance, and descending for landing in instrument meteorological conditions. According to the pilot he started a gradual descent over an area of featureless, snow-covered, down-sloping terrain in whiteout and flat light conditions. During the descent a localized snow shower momentarily reduced the pilot’s forward visibility and he was unable to discern any terrain features. The airplane collided with terrain in an all-white snow/ice field and sustained substantial damage. At the time of the accident the destination airport was reporting visibility of 1.5 statute miles in light snow and mist, broken layers at 900 and 1,600 feet, and 3,200 feet overcast, with a temperature and dew point of 25 degrees Fahrenheit. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane and that the accident could have been avoided if the flight had been operated under an instrument-flight-rules flight plan.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's continued flight into adverse weather and his failure to maintain clearance from terrain while on approach in flat light conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/19/2009
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1812
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City Nome
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99762
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 643044N
Event Location Longitude 1652642W
Event Location Airport Nome
Event Location Nearest Airport ID OME
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 5
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 37
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1802 Atlantic Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 210
Weather Observation Facility ID OME
Elevation of weather observation facility 37
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation AST
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 900
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 5500
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 25
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.06
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 5
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 6
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26410
NTSB Notification Source ANC FAA, ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2009 1:18PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N41185
NTSB Number ANC09LA021
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-31-350
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 31-8553001
Certified Max Gross Weight 7368
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 7
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Feb 6 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 46
Airframe Hours 10928
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name Gussic Ventures
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7325 Foxridge Circle, #1
Aircraft Owner City Anchorage
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99518
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Frontier Flying Service
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 5245 Airport Industrial Rd
Operator City Fairbanks
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99709
Operator Code FFSA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code KTS
Departure City Brevig Mission
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1735
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code OME
Destination City Nome
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2009 1:18PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 28
Runway Length 6001
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --