# NTSB ANC09CA020: Beech 65-A90-1, N418SP, Soldotna, AK, February 16, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 16, 2009, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Soldotna, AK
- Coordinates: 60.474998, -151.038055
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.4750&lon=-151.0381&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 12, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73354
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09CA020
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73354/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09CA020

## Probable cause

The pilot's misidentification of the runway surface during landing. Contributing to the accident were the snow-covered terrain, and low-light conditions.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md)
- [Perception/orientation/illusion: visual illusion/disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md)
- [Light condition: low light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The airline transport pilot was making a personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91. The pilot said when he arrived at the destination airport there was 3-4 inches of new snow, and that the overcast and low light condition made everything look gray. He said the visual approach slope indicator (VASI) lights were inoperative, and the appropriate notice to airman (NOTAM) was issued. He said he turned on the runway lights, identified what he thought was the runway surface, and lined up the runway edge lights on his left. After the airplane touched down he said he realized that he landed to the right of the runway surface, with the right side runway edge lights on his left. The pilot said the airplane settled into deep snow, and impacted a snowbank, collapsing the landing gear. In a written statement the pilot wrote that given the snow and light conditions, using the wide area augmentation system (WAAS) instrument flight rules (IFR) approach would have aligned the airplane with the runway surface. The pilot said there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The airplane sustained structural fuselage damage during the accident.

## Factual narrative

The airline transport pilot was making a personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91. The pilot said when he arrived at the destination airport there was 3-4 inches of new snow, and that the overcast and low light condition made everything look gray. He said the visual approach slope indicator (VASI) lights were inoperative, and the appropriate notice to airman (NOTAM) was issued. He said he turned on the runway lights, identified what he thought was the runway surface, and lined up the runway edge lights on his left. After the airplane touched down he said he realized that he landed to the right of the runway surface, with the right side runway edge lights on his left. The pilot said the airplane settled into deep snow, and impacted a snowbank, collapsing the landing gear. In a written statement the pilot wrote that given the snow and light conditions, using the wide area augmentation system (WAAS) instrument flight rules (IFR) approach would have aligned the airplane with the runway surface. The pilot said there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The airplane sustained structural fuselage damage during the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N418SP (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 65-A90-1
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: LM-138
- Airframe hours: 11807
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-20 550 horsepower turbo prop; Pratt & Whitney PT6A-20 550 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Missionary Aviation Repair Center
- Registered owner: Missionary Aviation Repair Center
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 10, 2008
- Departed: PAWS, Wasilla, AK
- Destination: PASX, Soldotna, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: PASX, Soldotna, runway 07, 5,000 × 130 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 14, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 14,000 total, 1,730 in this make and model, 13,500 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.50 inHg
- Observed at: PASX

## 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 20090216025069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090216025069A), Feb 16, 2009: Beech 65-A90-1, Soldotna, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot stated that when he arrived at the destination airport there was 3-4 inches of snow, and that the overcast and low light condition made everything…

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.

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