# NTSB ANC07CA019: Aero Commander 100, N3889X, Manokotak, AK, February 8, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 8, 2007, 18:10 local (22:10 UTC) - Place: Manokotak, AK - Coordinates: 58.952499, -159.383331 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.9525&lon=-159.3833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 65277 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC07CA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65277/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07CA019 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - weather condition - snow (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - Nose over, descent - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3889X-2018-01-18), registration cancelled 2018-01-18, S/N 194, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aero Commander 100 - Registry model: [Aero Commander 100](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-100) (registry code 0140202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 194 - Airframe hours: 1701 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20070208002179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070208002179A), Feb 8, 2007: Slinds 100ACMDR, Manokotak, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] states he was flying from togiak to dillingham, Alaska. He did not check weather. The ceiling was low although the… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.