ANC95LA003

The pilot and two passengers of a wheel/ski equipped airplane were taxiing for takeoff for an on-demand air taxi flight. The right ski contacted a snow berm and pivoted the airplane. The left wing then struck a snow bank. The pilot indicated that flat lighting conditions and low contrast made distinction between the snow berm and the surrounding terrain difficult.

On October 15, 1994, at 1140 Alaska daylight time, a wheel/ski equipped Cessna A185F airplane, operated by Cape Smythe Air Service Inc., collided with a snow bank while taxiing for takeoff at the Kotzebue Airport in Kotzebue, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot-in-command and his two revenue passengers were not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight operation was being conducted under the on- demand rules contained in 14 CFR Part 135. A VFR flight plan was on file with the Kotzebue Flight Service Station (FSS) and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the mishap.

During a telephone interview, the pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge that while taxiing for takeoff the right ski drove onto a snow berm causing the airplane to veer to the left and collide with a snow pile. The left wing, left aileron, and left elevator were damaged in the mishap. The pilot reported that the mishap occurred during a flat light condition which made it difficult for him to distinguish the distance between the snow bank and the snow covered terrain in the background.