# NTSB ANC09LA019: Construcciones Aeronauticas C-212-CC, N440RA, Kotzebue, AK, February 14, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 14, 2009, 11:02 local (15:02 UTC) - Place: Kotzebue, AK - Coordinates: 66.884719, -162.598617 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.8847&lon=-162.5986&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - 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): 73352 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09LA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73352/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73352 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09LA019 ## Probable cause The flight crew's decision to continue flight into adverse weather. Contributing to the accident was blowing snow which limited their visibility during final approach to land. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Construcciones Aeronauticas C-212-CC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000/cases.md?model=2410204), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: snow](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Construcciones Aeronauticas C-212-CC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035045/cases.md?model=2410204), [All aircraft, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035045/cases.md) - [Physical workspace: visibility](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041020): Environmental issues › Task environment · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Construcciones Aeronauticas C-212-CC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041020/cases.md?model=2410204), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041020/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: snow](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Construcciones Aeronauticas C-212-CC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035045/cases.md?model=2410204), [All aircraft, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401); cases with it: [Construcciones Aeronauticas C-212-CC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md?model=2410204), [All aircraft, 392 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Construcciones Aeronauticas C-212-CC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2410204), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport certificated captain and commercial certificated first officer were on a non-scheduled domestic cargo flight. The captain stated that while en route to the destination airport, the weather at the airport dropped below visual flight rules (VFR) minimums, and he received a special VFR clearance. He said that the local area and runway were covered with snow, but when he turned final he could see the airport beacon and associated buildings. He said about 200 feet above the ground on approach he lost sight of the runway environment, and asked the first officer if he could see anything. When the first officer said no, and reported their altitude at 50 feet agl, the captain said he initiated a go-around, but the airplane impacted the terrain short of the runway. The captain reported that there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane or its instruments prior to the accident. The Director of Operations for the operator said the airplane sustained structural damage to the fuselage near the left main landing gear. An Federal Aviation Administration flight service specialist at the airport said the visibility had been about 1-1/4 miles, but dropped to 1/4-mile rapidly during the time of the approach. Weather observations taken at the airport showed that about 3 minutes before the accident, the visibility was 1 mile in light snow and blowing snow, wind as 160 degrees at 28 knots gusting to 32. About 1 minute before the accident, the visibility was reported as 1/4-mile in light snow and blowing snow, wind from 160 degrees at 33 knots gusting to 36. About 3 minutes after the accident, the visibility remained at 1/4-mile in light snow and blowing snow, and the wind was reported as 170 degrees at 35 knots with gusts to 42. ## Factual narrative On February 14, about 1102 Alaska standard time, a CASA 212 twin-engine airplane, N440RA, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain about one-half mile west of the Ralph Wien Memorial Airport, Kotzebue, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by Arctic Transportation Services, Anchorage, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) cargo flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airline transport pilot and co-pilot were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the airport, and a special VFR clearance had been obtained by the flight crew. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on February 17, the pilot said he flew a normal VFR left-hand traffic pattern. He said that the area and runway were covered with snow, but when he turned final he could see the airport beacon and associated buildings. He said as he continued the approach, the co-pilot called an altitude of 200 feet, and as he did so, the wind appeared to shift abruptly. The pilot said he lost sight of the airport, and asked the co-pilot if he could see the airport. When the co-pilot said no, and reported their altitude as 50 feet above ground level, the pilot said he initiated a go-around, but the airplane impacted terrain short of the runway. The pilot said there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane or its instruments prior to the accident. He also said he and the co-pilot were instrument current, and the airplane was properly certified for instrument flight. The Director of Operations for the operator said the airplane sustained structural damage to the fuselage near the left main landing gear. An FAA flight service specialist at the airport said the visibility had been about 1 1/4 miles, but dropped to 1/4 mile rapidly during the time of the approach. According to official weather observations taken by the weather observer at Kotzebue, at 59 minutes before the hour the visibility was 1 mile in light snow and blowing snow, wind was 160 degrees at 28 knots gusting to 32. At 1 minute after the hour the visibility was reported as 1/4 mile in light snow and blowing snow, wind from 160 degrees at 33 knots gusting to 36. At 5 minutes past the hour the visibility remained at 1/4 mile in light snow and blowing snow, and the wind was reported as 170 degrees at 35 knots with gusts to 42. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N440RA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N440RA), registered now, S/N 174 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CONSTRUCCIONES AERONAUTICAS SA C-212-CC - Registry model: [Construcciones Aeronauticas C-212-CC](https://openairdocs.org/model/construcciones-aeronauticas-c-212-cc) (registry code 2410204) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 174 - Airframe hours: 29161 - Engines: Honeywell TPE-331-10R-5 900 horsepower turbo prop; Honeywell TPE-331-10R-5 900 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Arctic Transportation Services Inc, doing business as Arctic Transportation Services - Registered owner: Arctic Transportation Services Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, January 21, 2009 - Departed: PAIK, Kiana, AK - Destination: PAQT, Kotzebue - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: PAQT, Kotzebue ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 19, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 6,377 total, 4,020 in this make and model, 3,910 as pilot in command, 227 in the last 90 days, 59 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 29, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 1,229 total, 862 in this make and model, 228 as pilot in command, 138 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 28 knots, gusting 32 - Visibility: 0.25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,900 ft broken - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.60 inHg - Observed at: PAQT ## 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 20090214025049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090214025049A), Feb 14, 2009: Construccio C-212-CC, Kotzebue, AK, Substantial damage. Ptrs #AL01200901225FLIGHT 1240 was returning to Kotzebue the ATIS was checked and the visibility was 6 statute miles. The visibility deteriorated to 1 1/4… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 24, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73352. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 724 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40310802&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 236 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40310803&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Weather Data (item 3, .PDF, 245 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40310804&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Data-Master.PDF 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.