19990903025629A

(.19) On September 3, 1999, at an estimated time of 1115 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-32R-300 airplane, N9166K, collided with mountainous terrain, about 22 miles north-northwest of Bettles, Alaska, at latitude 67 degrees, 16.644 minutes north, and longitude 151 degrees, 36.132 minutes west. The airplane was destroyed. 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 servant air inc., fairbanks, Alaska, as flight 502. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, received fatal injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the anaktuvuk pass airport, anaktuvuk pass, Alaska, about 1045. The chief pilot for servant air inc. reported the airplane was on a flight from fairbanks, to anaktuvuk pass, to Bettles, and return to fairbanks. The estimated time of arrival in fairbanks was 1251. The airplane was carrying about 119 pounds of U.S. By-pass mail. A weather observer with a federal aviation administration (FAA) contract weather obser vation station in Bettles, reported the pilot of the airplane made a radio call stating he was "inbound" to Bettles. The airplane did not arrive and was reported overdue at 1342. An emergency locator transmitter signal was received by the U.S. Air force Alaska rescue coordination center, anchorage, Alaska, at 1215. Search personnel located the accident sites on September 4, 1999, about 1330, at an elevation of about 4,500 feet MSL. The wreckage was found on the north face of twoday mountain, elevation 4,720 feet MSL. The accident site was covered by light snow. The closest official weather observation station is Bettles, Alaska. On September 3, 1999, at 1050, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) was reporting in part: wind, 354 degrees (magnetic) at 10 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles in light rain; clouds and sky condition, few at 300 feet, 2,500 feet broken, 6,000 feet overcast; temperature, 50 degrees f; dew point, 49 degrees f; altimeter, 29.32 inhg. (.4) after receiving a full weather briefing, the commercial certificated pilot departed on a VFR scheduled domestic flight with U.S. Mail as the cargo. The intended route was over mountainous terrain. When the pilot opened his flight plan, the flight station specialist advised the pilot of airmets for mountain obscuration and icing. After dropping mail at an intermediate stop, the pilot advised he was inbound to a planned refueling stop. The airplane did not arrive, and an ELT signal was reported 22 miles north of the refueling destination. The accident site was located the following day in a direct line between the intermediate stop and the refueling destination. The airplane collided at high speed with a mountain side at 4,500 feet MSL of a 4,720 foot mountain. An area forecast included occasional ceilings below 1,000 feet, with visibility below 3 statute miles in light rain and mist. Airmets were issued for mountain obscuration, with mountains occasionally obscured in clouds and in precipitation. Airmets were issued for icing with occasional moderate rime icing in clouds and in precipitation from 6,000 to 18,000 feet. Search personnel reported that the mountain tops in the areaof the ELT were obscured by fog and snow showers. The accident site was covered by about 4 inches of snow. (-23)controlled flight into terrain for undetermined reasons, impact site was at 4500' MSL on the west side of two day mountain, 22 miles north of Bettles, Alaska, reported ceiling was broken 2500' and 3000' with 6000' solid layer MSL at the time of accident.