# NTSB ANC95LA049: Cessna 207, N1769U, Old Harbor, AK, April 26, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 25, 1995, 19:40 local (Apr 26, 1995, 03:40 UTC) - Place: Old Harbor, AK - Coordinates: 57.21088, -153.320358 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.2109&lon=-153.3204&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report January 19, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2644 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2644/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA049 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER. THE WHITEOUT CONDITION WAS A FACTOR. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor) - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor) ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1769U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1769U-2012-08-13), registration cancelled 2012-08-13, S/N 20700369, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 207 - Registry model: [Cessna 207A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207a) (registry code 2073604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 00369 - Airframe hours: 11036 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Markair Express - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, February 27, 1995, 50 hours before - Departed: 6R7, AK - Destination: ADQ, KODIAK, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,700 total, 700 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken - Temperature: 39 °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 19950425019839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950425019839A), Apr 25, 1995: Cessna 207A, Old Harbor, AK, Destroyed. Advised pass closed. Elected to try anyway. Saw pass closed. Lost control due whiteout conditions turning back. 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.