ANC03LA044

The solo commercial pilot reported he was transporting cargo on a cross-country flight in VFR conditions. The flight progressed over a large, featureless, snow-covered lagoon, and according to the pilot, flat light conditions made it difficult to discern any topographical features of the terrain. The pilot didn't realize that the airplane had entered a descent. The airplane descended and ultimately struck the snow-covered lagoon, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The reported weather conditions included a 1,200 foot overcast ceiling and visibility of 9 statute miles.

On April 16, 2003, about 1005 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300 airplane, N2863T, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a frozen snow-covered lagoon during cruise flight, about 10 miles east of the Ralph Wien Memorial Airport, Kotzebue, Alaska. The airplane was operated by Servant Air, Inc., Fairbanks, Alaska, as a VFR cross-country cargo flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of departure, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated about 0959 from the Ralph Wien Memorial Airport, and was en route to Noorvik, Alaska, with planned stops in Kiana and Selawik, Alaska, before returning to Kotzebue.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on April 16, the pilot reported that after departing from Kotzebue, he headed east towards his first destination of Noorvik. He said that as the flight progressed over the large, featureless, snow-covered lagoon, flat light conditions made it difficult to discern any topographical features of the terrain. He said he didn't realize the airplane had entered a descent. He said that the airplane descended and ultimately struck the snow-covered lagoon. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.

The closest official weather observation station is located at the Ralph Wien Memorial Airport. At 1000, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting, in part: Wind, 100 degrees (true) at 10 knots; visibility, 9 statute miles, in light snow showers; clouds and sky condition, 2,300 feet broken, 4,000 feet broken, 9,000 feet broken, 18,000 feet overcast; temperature, 34 degrees F; dew point, 32 degrees F; altimeter, 29.34 inHg. According to the pilot, the weather conditions at the accident site included a 1,200 foot overcast ceiling and visibility of 9 statute miles.