19981025030139A

Acft crashed under unknown circumstances. (-23)pilot departed kiana, AK on 14 CFR, part 135 revenue passenger flight in night VMC conditions. Area weather forecast called for VFR conditions with occasional snow showers. Snow showers were encountered enroute to selawik, AK and the aircraft crashed into rising terrain while the pilot attempted to maneuver away from the conditions. The aircraft was operated below a safe altitude for terrain clearance. (.19)on October 25, 1998, about 2030 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 207A airplane, N9400M, sustained substantial damage during a collision with terrain, about 7.6 miles east of Noorvik, Alaska. The airplane was being operated on a visual flight rules (VFR) scheduled passenger flight under title 14 CFR part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by hageland aviation services, inc., anchorage, Alaska, as flight 915-1. The certificated commercial pilot, and four passengers, were not injured. One passenger received minor injuries. Dark night, and instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the bob baker memorial airport, kiana, Alaska, with an intended destination of selawik, Alaska. The chief pilot for the operator reported the pilot departed for selawik, which is 26 miles southeast of kiana. An area of small mountains are located between the two airports. The pilot indicated a wave of snow showers reduced the visibility along the intended route of flight. He diverted to the west of his intended route, and was flying about 1,000 feet above the ground. In the area of hotham peak, the airplane came to an abrupt halt when it collided with snow covered ground about 900 feet MSL. The closest official weather observation station is kotzebue, Alaska, which is located 45 nautical miles west of the accident site. On October 25, 1998, at 2000, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) was reporting in part: wind, 092 degrees at 18 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 1,200 feet broken, 1,800 feet broken, 9,500 feet overcast; temperature, 30 degrees f; dew point, 28 degrees f; altimeter, 29.12 in hg. (.4) the certificated commercial pilot, and four passengers, departed a remote airport on a VFR scheduled air taxi flight during dark night conditions over snow-covered terrain. The pi lot said he obtained weather information from his home computer, pilot reports, and his personal observations. After takeoff, the pilot deviated around an area of small mountains located between the departure and destination airports. The pilot said his deviation was planned to maintain a minimum of 1,000 feet above the ground, and below icing conditions. During the flight, the pilot encountered a snow shower. The pilot said he did not have any outside visual references to navigate by. He depended upon the airplane's directional gyro for course information, and said the gyro rotated to the left, placing the airplane near a mountain. The airplane collided with snow covered terrain about 900 feet MSL. Passengers reported they could not see the ground, and were not aware of any problem until the airplane came to an abrupt stop. An area forecast included an AIRMET for mountain obscuration. The forecast also included light isolated moderate rime icing in clouds, and marginal VFR ceilings in snow and mist.