ANC95LA049

The pilot was informed by another company pilot that the higher passes were closed. He then attempted to fly through 'high pass' located near Old Harbor. The pilot described the weather as overcast with ceilings obscured, and flight visibility was 2 to 3 miles. The pass was snow covered. As he entered the pass he lost visual reference due to whiteout conditions and he initiated a left turn to exit the pass. Approx half way through the turn the left wing struck the mountain.

On April 25, 1995, at 1940 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 207 airplane, N1769U, registered to and operated by Markair Express of Anchorage, Alaska, crashed in "High Pass" near Old Harbor, Alaska. Old Harbor is located on Kodiak Island, near Kodiak, Alaska. The positioning flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Old Harbor and the destination was Kodiak. A company visual flight rules flight plan was in effect. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area, but the accident site was in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The Airline Transport certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured and the airplane was destroyed by impact forces.

According to the Director of Operations for Markair Express, a pilot in another airplane told the accident pilot that the higher elevation passes were closed. The accident pilot decided to fly into "High Pass" to see if he could "make it." The accident pilot told the Director of Operations that he saw the pass was closed and he began a turn to the right. The pass was snow covered and there was an overcast cloud layer above the pass. According to the pilot, the prevailing visibility in the area was 10 miles, however, at the accident scene, the overcast was obscured and the visibility was 2 to 3 miles. Approximately half way through the turn, he entered IMC due to whiteout and the left wing struck the mountain.