# NTSB ANC83FA068: Britten-Norman BN-2A-8, N37MN, Selawik, AK, April 7, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 7, 1983, 14:56 local (22:56 UTC)
- Place: Selawik, AK
- Coordinates: 66.589691, -160.01918 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.5897&lon=-160.0192&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4021
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC83FA068
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4021/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83FA068

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather forecast - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, climb
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE FAA SPECIALIST ON DUTY AT THE NOME FLIGHT SERVICE STATION THE PLT OF MUNZ NORTHERN FLT 601 REQUESTED ONLY THE AMBLER WX AT 0030 GMT. THE ONLY SURVIVING PASSENGER STATED THAT THE FLT DEPTD NOME, AK AT 1330 BST AND AS THE FLT CONTINUED NORTH SHE COULD ONLY SEE STRAIGHT DOWN AND WAS NERVOUS BECAUSE THE GROUND WAS SO CLOSE. SHE FURTHER STATED THAT THE PROPS CHANGED THEIR SOUND WHICH RELATED TO THE SOUND THEY MADE EARLIER IN THE FLIGHT WHEN THE ACFT CLIMBED TO CLEAR A MOUNTAIN. SHE ALSO ADDED THAT THEY WERE IN WHITEOUT CONDITIONS PRIOR TO IMPACT AND THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES THAT WHE WAS AWARE OF.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N37MN (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Britten-Norman BN-2A-8
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 558
- Airframe hours: 6674
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-E4C5 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Munz Northern Airlines, Inc.
- Last inspection: AAIP, April 1, 1983, 18 hours before
- Departed: OME, NOME, AK
- Destination: Z60, AMBLER, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 11,054 total, 1,598 in this make and model, 7,900 as pilot in command, 94 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,400 ft
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: Z60, 76 nm away

## 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 19830407014569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830407014569A), Apr 7, 1983: Bnorm BN2A8, Selawik, AK, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Flew into the ground in a whiteout. Was VFR in area of snowshowers and snow covered terrain. No ground reference.

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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