- Date
- February 8, 2007, 18:10 local (22:10 UTC)
- Place
- Manokotak, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N3889XAero Commander 100
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report April 25, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 20070208002179A
- Case key
- 65277
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's continued VFR cruise flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain. Factors associated with the accident were fog, low ceilings, snow showers, and snow-covered terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The private pilot was conducting a Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight between two remote communities with one passenger. The pilot said that as the flight arrived in an area of a 650-foot elevation mountain pass, weather conditions consisted of low ceilings, fog, and light snow showers, which made it difficult to discern topographical features on the snow-covered terrain. The airplane entered the pass, and the pilot stated he initiated a climb to 700 feet msl in order to fly over the summit of the pass. As the airplane neared the saddle of the pass, weather conditions worsened, and he said he lost all visual reference with the terrain below. He reported that he thought he was through the pass, and had started a gradual descent, when he caught a quick glimpse of terrain and attempted to climb. The airplane subsequently collided with the snow-covered saddle of the pass, nosed over, and slid down the back side of the pass. The airplane continued to slide for about 1,200 feet, and came to rest in the valley floor below. Neither the pilot nor the passenger reported any injuries. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Factual narrative
The private pilot was conducting a Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight between two remote communities with one passenger. The pilot said that as the flight arrived in an area of a 650-foot elevation mountain pass, weather conditions consisted of low ceilings, fog, and light snow showers, which made it difficult to discern topographical features on the snow-covered terrain. The airplane entered the pass, and the pilot stated he initiated a climb to 700 feet msl in order to fly over the summit of the pass. As the airplane neared the saddle of the pass, weather conditions worsened, and he said he lost all visual reference with the terrain below. He reported that he thought he was through the pass, and had started a gradual descent, when he caught a quick glimpse of terrain and attempted to climb. The airplane subsequently collided with the snow-covered saddle of the pass, nosed over, and slid down the back side of the pass. The airplane continued to slide for about 1,200 feet, and came to rest in the valley floor below. Neither the pilot nor the passenger reported any injuries. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3889X
- Reported as
- Aero Commander 100
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 194
- Airframe hours
- 1,701
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James H. Bingman
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 1, 2006 · 23 hours before
- Departed
- TOG · Togiak Village, AK
- Destination
- DLG · Dillingham, AK
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 69
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 1, 2006
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 5,060 total · 24 in this make and model · 5,060 as pilot in command · 24 in the last 90 days · 13 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 0 statute miles
- Temperature
- 28 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.