# NTSB ANC11LA004: Beech 1900C, N111AX, Sitka, AK, October 18, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 18, 2010, 07:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Sitka, AK - Coordinates: 57.046943, -135.361389 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.0469&lon=-135.3614&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 12, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-Anchorage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77624 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77624/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77624 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11LA004 ## Probable cause A lightning strike which resulted in substantial damage to the elevator. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Convective weather: lightning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 1900C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033025/cases.md?model=1154161), [All aircraft, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033025/cases.md) - [Empennage structure: elevators](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035520): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Beech 1900C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035520/cases.md?model=1154161), [All aircraft, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Beech 1900C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=1154161), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 1900C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1154161), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The captain, who was the non-flying pilot, reported that he altered their course to avoid thunderstorm activity. Once clear of the thunderstorms, they flew direct to the initial instrument approach fix. During the instrument approach to land, the flight crew saw a build up of static electricity, known as St. Elmo's fire, near the nose of the airplane. The first officer reported that the light from the static electricity was very bright, and he decided to keep his eyes focused on the instruments. Shortly thereafter, lightning struck the nose of the airplane and the associated flash temporarily blinded the captain. The first officer continued to fly the approach without difficulty. Once the captain regained his sight, he took the flight controls and completed the landing. During a postaccident inspection of the airplane, the flight crew discovered substantial damage to the right elevator. ## Factual narrative On October 18, 2010, at 0700 Alaska daylight time, a Beech 1900C, N111AX, sustained substantial damage when it was struck by lightning about 15 nautical miles from the Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport (PASI), Sitka, Alaska. The captain, first officer, and an observer sitting in the jump seat were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Alaska Central Express, Inc., as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on-demand cargo flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. An instrument flight plan was filed. The airplane departed the Juneau International Airport (PAJN), Juneau, Alaska, at 0608 en route to PASI. The captain, who was the non-flying pilot, reported that they altered their planned course to avoid thunderstorm activity between Juneau and Sitka. Once clear of the thunderstorms, they proceeded direct to HESOK, the initial approach fix for the RNAV (GPS) RWY 11 approach to PASI. About 2 miles from the final approach fix, lightning struck the nose of the airplane. The lightning flash blinded the captain and the observer for about 30 seconds. The first officer was looking at the instrument panel when the lightning flash occurred so he did not lose his sight. He continued to fly the approach. Once the captain regained his sight, he took control of the airplane and landed on runway 11. During the postflight inspection of the airplane, the flight crew discovered substantial damage to the right elevator. The first officer reported that prior to the lightning strike, the flight crew observed St. Elmo's fire coming off the nose of the airplane. The light was very bright so he decided to keep his eyes focused on the instruments as he continued to fly the instrument approach. He stated that a few moments later there was a "loud bang" and the "brightest light I have ever seen in my life." He reported that the airplane's flight characteristics were not adversely affected by the lightning strike. At 0653, the surface weather observation at PASI was: Wind 180 at 13 knots gusting to 21 knots; visibility 10 miles; scattered clouds 3,100 feet; broken clouds 3,800 feet; overcast 6,500 feet; temperature 9 degrees Celsius (C); dew point 4 degrees C; altimeter 29.54 inches of mercury. At 0711, the special weather observation at PASI was: Wind 200 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 30 knots; visibility 4 miles; small hail and light rain; ceiling broken at 2,800 feet; overcast at 3,800 feet; temperature 8 degrees C; dew point 4 degrees C; altimeter 29.57 inches of mercury. Remarks: peak wind from 200 degrees at 30 knots occurred at 0709; rain began at 0657; small hail began at 0711; hourly precipitation 0.04 inches since 0653. The National Transportation Safety Board's accident database included only two previous accidents associated with "lightning blindness." The previous accidents were NYC84LA289 and FTW93LA114. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N111AX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N111AX), registered now, S/N UC-81, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 1900C - Registry model: [Beech 1900C](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-1900c) (registry code 1154161) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: UC-81 - Airframe hours: 56862 - Engines: P&W CANADA PT6A-60A 1050 horsepower turbo prop; P&W CANADA PT6A-60A 1050 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Alaska Central Express Inc - Registered owner: Alaska Central Express Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 29, 2010 - Departed: PAJN, Juneau, AK - Destination: PAJN, Juneau, AK - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PASI, Sitka, runway 11, 6,500 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 21, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 3,500 total, 2,800 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 27; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 8, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 860 total, 375 in this make and model, 175 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 180° at 13 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.55 inHg - Observed at: PASI ## 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 20101018052929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101018052929A), Oct 18, 2010: Beech 1900C, Sitka, AK, Minor damage. The aircraft was struck by lightning approximately 15 miles from the Sitka Alaska Rocky Gutierrez airport, while conducting a GPS instrument approach procedure… ## Other investigations on N111AX (2) 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. - [NTSB ANC12CA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA042), May 24, 2012: Beech 1900C (N111AX), McGrath, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's unstable approach and overrotation, which resulted in a tailstrike. - [NTSB ANC08IA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08IA026), Dec 17, 2007: Beech 1900 (N111AX), Aniak, AK, incident, no damage. Probable cause: A hazardous leak from carbon dioxide cylinders due to the failure of the flight crew to properly load and secure the cylinders, resulting in crew incapacitation. Factors contributing to the incident… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 13, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77624. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339185&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Information (item 2, .PDF, 526 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346894&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information-Master.PDF - Photo 1. View of elevator damage. (item 3, .PDF, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346895&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20View%20of%20elevator%20damage.-Master.PDF - Photo 2. View of elevator damage. (item 4, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346896&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20View%20of%20elevator%20damage.-Master.PDF - Photo 3. View of elevator damage. (item 5, .PDF, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346897&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20View%20of%20elevator%20damage.-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.