# NTSB ANC97LA029: Cessna 337C, N2615S, Golovin, AK, February 25, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 25, 1997, 16:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Golovin, AK - Coordinates: 64.710395, -164.620529 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7104&lon=-164.6205&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2967 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA029 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2967/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA029 ## Probable cause the pilot's continued flight into adverse weather conditions, and failure to maintain sufficient distance/altitude from terrain. Low ceiling, flat light condition, and the ice pressure ridge were related factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - light condition - other (contributing factor) - flight into adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - terrain condition - other (contributing factor) - distance/altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot was en route to his intended landing point over a portion of frozen ocean ice in a twin engine, centerline thrust airplane. He was flying about 100 feet above the ice to remain below an area of low and obscured ceilings. Visibility was about 6 miles, but flat light conditions prevailed. While in cruise flight, the airplane suddenly collided with an unknown object. The front engine developed a severe vibration, and the pilot was unable to feather the engine. He continued to the intended destination and landed without further damage. An inspection of the airplane revealed that the front engine propellers were bent aft about 14 inches. The blades struck the nose gear support structure. The right step was torn from the airplane and produced about a 12 inch gouge in the fuselage. The pilot was informed by local residents, that a large ice pressure ridge had formed in the area of the accident. The ice ridge, as reported to the pilot, was estimated at 35 to 40 feet high. ## Factual narrative On February 25, 1997, about 1620 Alaska standard time, a Cessna 337C, N2615S, collided with terrain while in cruise flight about 5 miles southeast of Golovin, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country business flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the Missionary Aviation Repair Center, Soldotna, Alaska, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Unalakleet, Alaska, about 1545. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on February 27, 1997, at 0910, the pilot reported he was flying about 100 feet above the ground to stay below an indefinite ceiling. Visibility was about 6 miles, but flat light conditions prevailed. The pilot was flying over the Golovin Bay area near Cape Darby, and while in cruise flight, suddenly collided with an unknown object. The pilot continued to Golovin and landed at 1630. An inspection of the airplane revealed that the front engine propellers were bent aft about 14 inches. The blades struck the nose gear support structure. The right step was torn from the airplane and produced about a 12 inch gouge in the fuselage. After landing, the pilot was informed by residents of Golovin that a large ice pressure ridge had formed in the Golovin Bay. The ice ridge, as reported to the pilot, was estimated at 35 to 40 feet high. ## Aircraft - Registration: N2615S (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 337C - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3370915 - Airframe hours: 4424 - Engines: Continental IO-360-C 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Missionary Aviation Center - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 18, 1996, 32 hours before - Departed: UNK, UNALAKLEET, AK - Destination: GLV, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 19,375 total, 475 in this make and model, 19,220 as pilot in command, 76 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 135° at 5 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 200 ft - Temperature: 34 °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 19970225001999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970225001999A), Feb 25, 1997: Cessna 337C, Golovin, AK, Substantial damage. Indicates struck ice ridge with front prop while flying below low ceiling. Bent prop nose gear step and fuselage. 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.