# NTSB ANC93FA027: Cessna 310, N1776G, Teller, AK, January 18, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 18, 1993, 08:50 local (12:50 UTC)
- Place: Teller, AK
- Coordinates: 65.249252, -166.359237 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.2493&lon=-166.3592&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 28, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5834
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93FA027
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5834/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93FA027

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE TERRAIN AVOIDANCE ALTITUDE. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE DARK NIGHT AND FEATURELESS SNOW COVERED TERRAIN, BOTH WHICH CREATED A 'FEATURELESS TERRAIN ILLUSION' WHICH PROBABLY LED THE PILOT TO VISUALLY OVERESTIMATE HIS ALTITUDE.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - normal
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural detection, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH NEARLY LEVEL TERRAIN ABOUT 3 MI SE OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE TERRAIN WAS SNOW COVERED, FEATURELESS, UNILLUMINATED, AND THE NIGHT SKY WAS VERY DARK. THE AIRPORT IS NOT SERVED BY ANY NAVIGATION AIDS. NAVIGATION IN THE AREA IS DONE BY 'PILOTAGE.' WITNESS REPORTS INDICATED THE VISIBILITY OF GROUND REFERENCE OBJECTS WAS NOT POSSIBLE DUE TO THE TOTAL DARKNESS AND LACK OF CONTRAST WITH COMPLETE SNOW COVERED TERRAIN. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE ONSET OF CIVIL TWILIGHT. NO RECORD OF PRE-DAWN COMPANY FLIGHTS BY THE PILOT DURING THE PAST 90 DAYS WERE FOUND. CESSNA AIRCRAFT COMPANY PROVIDES A WARNING 'FEATURELESS TERRAIN ILLUSION, AN ABSENCE OF GROUND FEATURES, AS WHEN LANDING OVER WATER, DARKENED AREAS AND TERRAIN MADE 'FEATURELESS BY SNOW' CAN CREATE THE ILLUSION THAT THE AIRPLANE IS AT A HIGHER ALTITUDE THAN IT ACTUALLY IS. THE PILOT WHO DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS ILLUSION WILL TEND TO FLY A LOWER APPROACH.'

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1776G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1776G-1993-10-07), registration cancelled 1993-10-07, S/N 310R0043 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310
- Registry model: [Cessna 310R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310r) (registry code 2074245) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 310R0043
- Airframe hours: 4914
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-M 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Olson Air Service, Inc, doing business as Olson Air Service
- Registered owner: Olson Air Service, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 11, 1993, 12 hours before
- Departed: OME, NOME, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 12,368 total, 1,127 in this make and model, 11,768 as pilot in command, 192 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -33 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19930118000469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930118000469A), Jan 18, 1993: Cessna 310R, Teller, AK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into snow covered ground on approach to airport. Airport lights only lights in area, total dark night.

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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