19990430004329A

Acft crashed while en route and sustained substantial damage, other circumstances are unknown. (.4) on April 30, 1999, about 0950 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 170B airplane, N2599C, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with snow covered terrain on the Tsirku Glacier, british columbia, Canada. The accident site is about 35 nautical miles west of Haines, Alaska, and about five miles west of the alaska/canada border. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under title 14 CFR part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the yakutat airport, yakutat, Alaska, about 0816. During a telephone conversation with a national transportation safety board (NTSB) air safety investigator (ASI), on may 2, 1999, the pilot reported he departed yakutat for a direct flight to Haines. He was flying over mountain glaciers that contained few other visual reference points. He described the weather conditions in the area as 6,000 feet overcast, and a visibility of 10 miles. While in cruise flight, the pilot said he misjudged his height above the Glacier. The airplane contacted snow covered terrain in level flight, and then nosed over. The location of the accident was provided by the pilot. It was latitude 59 degrees, 19.25 minutes north, and longitude 136 degrees, 38.75 minutes west. This report is for informational purposes only. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of Canada. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: transportation safety board of Canada #4-3071 number five road richmond, british columbia Canada, V6X2T4