# NTSB ANC93FA013: Cessna 402C, N67941, Kiana, AK, November 8, 1992 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: November 8, 1992, 18:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: Kiana, AK - Coordinates: 66.979461, -160.429565 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.9795&lon=-160.4296&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 3 fatal - Status: Completed, report May 26, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2294 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93FA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2294/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93FA013 ## Probable cause THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S ATTEMPT TO FLY VFR INTO IMC CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE SNOW, WHITEOUT CONDITIONS, AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal - weather condition - snow (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE WAS ON A VFR FLIGHT FROM KOTZEBUE TO NOORVIK, KIANA, SELAWIK, AND RETURN TO KOTZEBUE. THE FLIGHT HAD OVERFLOWN KIANA DUE TO UNPLOWED RUNWAY CONDITIONS, AND WAS PROCEEDING TO SELAWIK WHEN IT CRASHED INTO SHELLY MOUNTAIN. ACCORDING TO THE RESCUE PERSONNEL, THE MOUNTAIN TOPS IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT WERE OBSCURED BY SNOW, FOG AND CLOUDS. THE TERRAIN WAS COVERED WITH SNOW. THE PILOT HAD A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT INVOLVING WHITEOUT CONDITIONS WHERE HE FLEW INTO RISING TERRAIN. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 8, 1992, at 1820 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 402C airplane, N67941, registered to and operated by Baker Aviation Inc. of Kotzebue, Alaska, crashed into a mountain while en route from Kiana, Alaska, to Selawik, Alaska. The air taxi flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 135, originally departed Kotzebue on a round robin flight with stops at Noorvik, Kiana, Selawik, and returning to Kotzebue. The flight last departed Noorvik and overflew Kiana due to runway conditions. A company visual flight rules flight plan was in effect and visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the valleys but the mountaintops were obscured by clouds. The Airline Transport Certificated Pilot and the two passengers were fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed by impact forces. According to the company, the airplane overflew Kiana due to unplowed runway conditions and was proceeding to Selawik along the winter snowmobile trail. The airplane never reached Selawik and the wreckage was located on November 9, 1992, approximately 3 miles east of the trail on the Selawik 314 degree radial at 17 miles (DME). INJURIES TO PERSONS The Pilot in Command and the two passengers received fatal injuries as a result of the impact. DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT The airplane was destroyed by impact forces. There was no evidence of pre or post impact fire. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The 40 year old Pilot in Command was the holder of an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, number 2374079, with an Airplane Multiengine land rating. He also held Commercial Privileges for Airplane Single Engine Land. The Airline Transport Pilot Rating was issued on September 8, 1989. According to the Airmen Certification Branch, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the Pilot in Command was also the holder of a Flight Instructor Certificate with Airplane single and Multiengine and Instrument Airplane ratings. The Flight Instructor Certificate was issued on August 21, 1991. The Flight Instructor Certificate was renewed through the Pilot's attendance at a FAA approved Jeppesen Sanderson Flight Instructor Refresher Clinic conducted on July 29, 1991. He was also the holder of a Advanced Ground Instructor Certificate, number 370506755, issued on May 16, 1985, and an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic Certificate, number 2380750, issued on September 19, 1987. According to the Aeromedical Certification Division of the FAA, the Pilot in Command was the holder of a First Class FAA Medical Certificate, with no limitations, issued on April 20, 1992. However, according to Baker Aviation pilot records, it contained a photocopy of a First Class FAA Medical Certificate dated November 2, 1992, 6 days prior to the accident. According to Baker Aviation pilot records, the Pilot was hired on December 14, 1990. The record also shows that as of July 16, 1992, the Pilot in command had a total flight time of 4528 hours with 4394 hours as Pilot in Command. The records show an entry of 0 hours for second in command. He had a total of 1747 hours of multiengine time with 912 hours in the Cessna 402 series. He had a total of 368 hours of instrument time, 131 hours of hood and 237 hours of actual instrument. According to the Baker Aviation Crewmember Assignment Record, the Pilot in Command failed a checkride in the Cessna 402 on June 26, 1992. A review of the FAR Part 135 Airman Competency/Proficiency Check Sheet (Checkride Sheet), the Pilot in Command received unsatisfactory marks under the Instrument Procedures section for Holding, ILS Approaches, VOR Approaches, and Missed Approaches. Furthermore, the Check Airman who was administering the checkride to the Pilot in Command, was also being examined by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Flight Standards Inspector. The Check Airman, Victor Olsen, received a satisfactory grade. The records also contained another Checkride Sheet, also dated June 29, 1992, which showed that the Pilot in Command satisfactorily passed all elements of the Checkride. He was reassigned to Pilot in Command duties on June 29, 1992. The Pilot's records also show that the Pilot in Command received recurrent training in the Cessna 402 airplane on June 26, 1992, however, the record did not show whether the training was before or after the failed checkride. The records further show, under the Baker Aviation Inc. Traingina Dates and Records Review form, that the Pilot in Command received ground training for the Cessna 402 in the Month of May, 1992, and flight training in the Cessna 402 in the month of June 1992. There was no information indicating whether any of that flight training was before or after the failed checkride. TOXICOLOGICAL RESULT Results of the toxicological tests were found to be negative. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane records were examined by John Gamble, FAA Inspector, FSDO 01, Fairbanks, Alaska, and the records were found to show no unusual entries or anomalies. The airplane was last inspected on October 27, 1992 during a 100 hour inspection. The airplane had a total airframe time of 7971.0 hours and had flown 67.1 hours since that inspection. The engines were inspected during the 100 hour inspection. The left engine had a total time of 234.0 hours and the right engine had a total time of 62.6 hours. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION According to information provided by Baker Aviation through the Duats Weather Information Service, the area synopsis for the Western and Southern Seward Peninsula, the Lower Kobuk Valley and Eastern Norton Sound, called for 1000 to 2000 foot scattered to broken clouds, 3000 to 5000 foot scattered to broken clouds with layers to 24,000 feet with occasional 1000 to 2000 foot overcast conditions with 3 to 5 miles of visibility with light snow, blowing snow and fog. Outlook was for Marginal Visual Flight Rules due to ceilings and snow. It also stated Airmet Sierra was current for IFR conditions and mountain obscuration. Airmet Sierra stated the following; Airmet Sierra for IFR/Mountain obscuration for St Lawrence Island, Western Norton sound, the Seward Peninsula and Eastern Norton Sound, occasional ceilings at or below 1000 feet and visibilities below 3 miles with light snow and blowing snow. Mountains occasionally obscured in clouds and precipitation. Further information contained in the area synopsis stated that Sigmet Delta applied for severe conditions. Sigmet Delta 1 stated the following; within an area bounded by the MCG-120 NM NW, the OTZ-120 NM N, the BTT- FYU-60 NM W, ORT-80 NM S, ENN-90 NM W, TKA-MCG...severe turbulence within 3000 feet above ground level especially near rough terrain and mountain passes is forecast. Low level wind shear possible on leeward side of higher terrain. Conditions continuing and moving eastward after 0250 UTC. The icing condition information was contained in the AIRMET and it called for occasional moderate rime icing below 15,000 feet with occasional moderate mixed icing in clouds and precipitation below 6000 feet. According to the Alaska State Trooper report, the Flight Service Station advised them that the local weather forecast called for severe turbulence below 5000 feet with low level wind shears and icing in the lower Kobuk Valley. There were no reports of turbulence in the area. Pilots in the area reported light snow and 4 miles of visibility at Kiana. Other reports showed a 2500 foot ceiling and 20 miles of visibility at Noorvik and a 2000 foot ceiling and 20 miles of visibility at Selawik. The report also states that a Army National Guard Blackhawk Helicopter was able to locate an Emergency Locator Beacon but was unable to reach the site due to low clouds and ground fog. There are no weather official FAA weather reporting facilities at Kiana, Noorvik, or Selawik. AIDS TO NAVIGATION The route of flight according to the FAA FSS flight plan information wa ## Aircraft - Registration: [N67941](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N67941-1993-05-12), registration cancelled 1993-05-12, S/N 402C0633 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 402C - Registry model: [Cessna 402C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402c) (registry code 207590R) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402C0633 - Airframe hours: 7971 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-VB 325 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Baker Aviation Inc. - Registered owner: Baker Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 27, 1992, 67 hours before - Departed: ORV, NOORVIK, AK - Destination: WLK, SELAWIK, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,528 total, 915 in this make and model, 4,394 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft - Temperature: 19 °F, dew point -0 °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 19921108045869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921108045869A), Nov 8, 1992: Cessna 402C, Kiana, AK, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Flew into side of cloud obscured mountain. Had prior same type but survivable accident. Was off course for a gap. ## Other investigations on N67941 (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 ANC91LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91LA099), Jul 14, 1991: Cessna 402-C (N67941), Kiana, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT FAILED TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT AND OVERRAN THE USABLE PORTION OF THE RUNWAY WHICH WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. - [NTSB ANC90LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC90LA018), Dec 11, 1989: Cessna 402 (N67941), Kotzebue, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT OF THE VEHICLE DRIVER, FROM CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL, WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH THE AIRPLANE. THE VEHICLE AND DARK NIGHT WERE CONSIDERED TO BE RELATED FACTORS. 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.