19981217033499A

(.19) On December 17, 1998, about 1740 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 207A airplane, N1764U, sustained substantial damage after colliding with terrain, about 6 miles southwest of Manokotak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) scheduled domestic flight under title 14 CFR part 135 when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by yute air Alaska inc., anchorage, Alaska, as flight 611 from dillingham, Alaska, to Manokotak, to togiak, Alaska, and then return to dillingham, via Manokotak. The certificated commercial pilot received minor injuries. The pilot rated, nonrevenue passenger, occupying the right front seat, received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the destination. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Manokotak Airport, about 1730. The operator reported the flight departed Manokotak on the last leg of the scheduled flight to dillingham. Only U.S. Mail was being carried on the flight. Thirty minutes after the airplane did not arrive, company personnel reported the flightoverdue. An emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal was received from the Manokotak area. Search personnel located the accident site about 0200, December 18, 1998. During an interview with the national transportation safety board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (iic), on December 18, 1998, at 1300, the passenger related the following: the flight arrived in Manokotak with light snow showers falling in the area. The flight had included turbulence and strong winds from the northeast. After departure from Manokotak after dark, snow showers intensified, and the pilot turned toward the south, away from the intended destination of dillingham. About 10 minutes after takeoff, he inquired about the direction of flight, and the pilot said he was going to head to the coast and follow it to dillingham. The visibility was about 1 mile. No ground features were visible until snow covered terrain was observed about 3 feet below the airplane. The airplane then collided with the terrain. The closest official weather observation station is dillingham, Alaska, which is located 23 nautical miles northeast of the accident site. On December 17, 1998, at 1750, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) was reporting in part: wind, 001 degrees (magnetic) at 9 knots, gust to 14 knots; visibility, 10 statue miles; clouds and sky condition, 10,000 broken, 18,000 feet overcast; temperature, 16 degrees f; dew point, 3 degrees f; altimeter, 30.67 inhg. (.4) the certificated commercial pilot and the pilot-rated, nonrevenue passenger, departed at night from a remote village airport on the last leg of a VFR scheduled air taxi flight. The destination airport was 17 nautical miles northeast of the departure point. After departure, the pilot said he encountered severe turbulence and entered a snow squall where the visibility dropped below 1 mile. The pilot said he was in instrument meteorological conditions, and a strong surface wind was blowing the airplane toward the southwest. He began correcting his course toward the southeast, and then collided with a snow-covered hill. The passenger said that light snow showers were falling in the area, along with turbulence and strong winds from the northeast. After departing on the accident flight, snow showers intensified, and the pilot turned toward the south, away from the intended destination. About 10 minutes after takeoff, the passenger I nquired about the direction of flight, and the pilot said he was going to head to the coast and follow it to the destination. The visibility was about 1 mile. No ground features were visible until the passenger saw snow-covered terrain about 3 feet below the airplane. The airplane then collided with terrain. The pilot indicated he obtained a weather briefing from an FAA flight service station.