# NTSB ANC95LA036: Cessna 207A, N1719U, Bethel, AK, March 20, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 20, 1995, 11:55 local (15:55 UTC) - Place: Bethel, AK - Location: 60.8474° N, 161.7913° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from BETHEL (BET), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8474&lon=-161.7913&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 29, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2633 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2633/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA036 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS AND A FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS 'WHITEOUT' WEATHER CONDITIONS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - terrain condition - snow covered - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause) - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis AFTER RECEIVING A SPECIAL VFR (SVFR) CLEARANCE, THE PILOT DEPARTED THE AIRPORT WITH A PASSENGER ON A SCHEDULED COMMUTER FLIGHT TO A REMOTE AIRPORT. ABOUT 14 MILES NORTH OF THE AIRPORT, AT 1,000 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL (MSL), THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND REVERSED COURSE, DESCENDING TO ABOUT 500 FEET MSL. THE PILOT REQUESTED A SVFR ARRIVAL BACK TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT AND BEGAN MANEUVERING TO INTERCEPT THE INBOUND COURSE. WHILE IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED AND COLLIDED WITH FLAT, SNOW COVERED TERRAIN ABOUT 5 MILE NORTH OF THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO DISTINGUISH ANY TERRAIN FEATURES UNTIL IMPACT WITH THE GROUND. ## Factual narrative On March 20, 1995, about 1155 hours Alaska standard time, a Cessna 207A, N1719U, collided with terrain while maneuvering about 5 miles north of Bethel, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) scheduled commuter flight to Kalskag, Alaska, under Title 14 CFR Part 135 when the accident occurred. The airplane, operated as flight number 750 by Yute Air Alaska Inc., Anchorage, Alaska, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident. A company VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Bethel Airport about 1130 hours. The operator reported that when the flight departed, the pilot requested and was granted a Special VFR (SVFR) departure from the Bethel Air Traffic Control Zone. The pilot was initially flying about 1,000 feet mean sea level about 14 miles north of the airport when he encountered blowing snow and zero visibility. The pilot turned around and descended to about 500 feet and requested a SVFR arrival back to Bethel. While the pilot was maneuvering to intercept the 055 degree radial of the Bethel VOR, the airplane descended into flat snow covered terrain and received damage to the landing gear, wings, and fuselage. The 1151 hours special weather observation from Bethel indicated in part: Sky partially obscured, measured ceiling 1,000 feet broken, 2,000 feet overcast; visibility, 2 1/2 miles in blowing snow; temperature, 5 degree F; dew point, -2 degree F; wind, 280 degrees at 20 knots; altimeter, 30.19 inHg; remarks, blowing snow covering 4/10 of the sky, visibility 2 miles variable to 4 miles, tower visibility 3 miles, overcast layer is partially thin. Section 524, Cold Weather Operations, of the operator's operations manual, flight operational procedures, states in part: "F. Enroute, 1. Weather conditions vary considerably in cold climates. Snow showers and whiteouts are to be expected. When penetration is made of a snow shower, a pilot should be prepared to refer to the instruments as visibility may be quickly lost. 2. Another hazard which has claimed as its victims some very competent pilots, is a 'whiteout'. This condition is illusive and can occur under a high ceiling where the sun filters through and bounces off the snow covered terrain. The result is a loss of visual cues and one feels as if he were flying in a 'milk bottle'. The pilot should rely on his instruments rather than usual references when these conditions are encountered." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1719U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1719U-2014-09-10), registration cancelled 2014-09-10, S/N 20700319, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 207A - Registry model: [Cessna 207](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207) (registry code 2073602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20700319 - Airframe hours: 11868 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Yute Air Alaska Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 12, 1995, 78 hours before - Destination: KLG, KALSKAG, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: BET, Bethel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,434 total, 158 in this make and model, 1,245 as pilot in command, 92 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 20 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft broken - Temperature: 5 °F, dew point -0 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BET, 5 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 19950320008179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950320008179A), Mar 20, 1995: Cessna 207A, Bethel, AK, Substantial damage. Encountered heavy snow shortly after departure. During 180 to return flew into snow covered terrain. Whiteout factor 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.