ANC98FA046

The certificated airline transport pilot, and nine passengers departed on a scheduled VFR commuter flight for a destination about 160 miles south of the departure airport. The terminal forecast for the destination airport, located in Class E airspace, was indicating a visibility greater than six miles, with scattered clouds at 2,500 feet. Temporary conditions included a visibility of five miles in light rain and snow, with broken clouds at 2,000 feet. While enroute, an obscured ceiling began to lower, and the pilot said he descended to 1,000 feet msl. The pilot said the visibility decreased to between three to four miles, and he began to follow a road toward the destination. About six miles north of the destination, the pilot obtained an airport advisory. The weather conditions at the destination airport were one mile visibility in light snow and mist, and a ceiling of 1,000 feet broken. The pilot requested a Special VFR clearance. As the in-flight visibility decreased to 1 mile, the pilot said he decided to begin a right turn back to an area of better visibility. During the turn, he said he entered white-out conditions. He leveled the wings of the airplane, and applied engine power to begin a climb. The airplane then collided with snow covered terrain, about 850 feet msl. The location of the accident is about 1 mile north of the Class E airspace.

History of flight

On May 14, 1998, about 1525 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 208 airplane, N192AV, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with terrain, about 5 1/2 miles northeast of Nome, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) scheduled domestic commuter flight under Title 14 CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Baker Aviation, Kotzebue, Alaska, as Flight 435. The certificated airline transport pilot, and five passengers received minor injuries. One passenger received serious injuries, and three passengers were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Ralph Wein Memorial Airport, Kotzebue, Alaska, about 1402.

The pilot stated that prior to departing on the accident flight, he obtained a weather briefing from the Kotzebue Flight Service Station (FSS) for the current, and forecast weather conditions at Nome, and Kotzebue.

A review of the Kotzebue FSS telephone conversation tapes indicated the pilot called at 1337, and requested an abbreviated weather briefing for the current conditions at Nome, the terminal forecast for Nome, and the terminal forecast for Kotzebue for the next three to four hours. The flight service station specialist provided the current weather conditions at Kotzebue, and the Nome terminal forecast. Computer problems prevented the briefer from providing current conditions at Nome, or the Kotzebue terminal forecast. The specialist offered to provide the Kotzebue area forecast, but the pilot declined the briefing.

After departure, the pilot indicated an obscured ceiling began to lower in an area about 70 miles south of Kotzebue. He said the airplane was in cruise flight at 4,500 feet mean sea level while en route to Nome. As the flight progressed southbound, the ceilings continued to lower, and the pilot said he descended to 2,500 feet. About 12 miles north of Nome, the pilot indicated he descended to 1,500 feet, and the visibility was between 3 to 4 miles.

At 1515, about 6 miles north of Nome, the pilot of the accident airplane contacted the Nome Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS), and obtained an airport advisory. The Nome flight service station specialist reported the Nome airport advisory as: "...wind, 080 degrees, at 20 knots, favoring runway 09, altimeter 29.63; Nome weather, IFR, visibility 1 mile in light snow and mist, ceiling 1,000 feet broken, 1,500 feet overcast." At 1516, the pilot requested, and received, a Special VFR clearance to enter the Nome Class E airspace.

At 1519, a second company airplane, (N9642F, operating as Flight 461), en route to Nome from Shishmaref, Alaska, contacted the Nome AFSS and requested a Special VFR clearance into the Nome Class E airspace. The pilot of Flight 461 was subsequently given a SVFR clearance after agreeing to maintain visual separation from the accident airplane. The pilot of Flight 461 indicated he was about 5 to 10 miles behind the accident airplane. Upon arrival at Nome, he described the visibility as 3 miles.

As the accident flight progressed toward Nome, the pilot of the accident airplane said he descended to 1,000 feet, and the visibility began decreasing to 1 mile. The pilot indicated he was maintaining visual contact with a road that was located along the east side of Newman Peak (elevation 1,152 feet msl). The pilot said when the visibility decreased to 1 mile, he decided to begin a right turn back to an area of better visibility. During the turn, the pilot said he entered white-out conditions. He leveled the wings of the airplane, and applied engine power to begin a climb. The airplane then collided with the snow covered terrain of Newman Peak, about 850 feet msl. The location of the accident is about 1 mile north of the Nome Class E airspace.

After landing at Nome without seeing the accident airplane, the pilot of Flight 461 inquired by radio if any personnel at the Nome AFSS had heard, or seen the accident airplane. The answer was negative. At 1527, the pilot of Flight 461 alerted Nome AFSS personnel that he was hearing an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal.

The accident occurred during the hours of daylight at latitude 64 degrees, 33.364 minutes north and longitude 165 degrees, 17.420 minutes west.

Crew information

The pilot holds an airline transport pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land, multiengine land, and single-engine sea ratings. In addition, the pilot holds a flight instructor certificate with airplane single-engine, multiengine, and instrument airplane ratings. The most recent first-class medical certificate was issued to the pilot on May 4, 1998, and contained no limitations.

According to the pilot/operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) submitted by the operator, the pilot's total aeronautical experience consists of about 3,713 hours, of which 362 were accrued in the accident airplane make and model. In the preceding 90 and 30 days prior to the accident, the report lists a total of 325 and 105 hours respectively.

The pilot completed his basic company indoctrination on January 26, 1998. He completed his FAA Part 135 check ride on February 2, 1998. The check ride included instrument procedures.

Aircraft information

The airplane had accumulated a total time of 5,574.3 hours. The airplane is maintained on an approved airworthiness inspection program (AAIP). The most recent Phase 1 mini-check inspection was accomplished on April 30, 1998, 80.9 hours before the accident.

Meteorological information

An area forecast for the southern Seward Peninsula, and eastern Norton Sound, issued on May 14, 1998, at 1145, and valid until 0000, was reporting, in part: "Clouds and weather; AIRMET for mountain obscuration. Mountains obscured in clouds, and precipitation, intensifying. Through 1800, 2,500 feet scattered, 4,000 feet broken, 12,000 feet broken, tops at 15,000 feet, widely separated layers above, tops 25,000 feet. Temporary conditions of 2,500 feet broken. Isolated ceilings below 1,000 feet, visibility 3 to 5 statute miles in light snow and mist. Beyond 1800, few clouds at 500 feet, 2,500 feet broken, 4,000 feet overcast, tops at 10,000 feet, visibility 5 statute miles in light rain and snow. Widely separated layers above, tops 25,000 feet. Temporary ceilings below 1,000 feet, visibility below 3 statute miles in light rain and snow, light snow and mist. Additionally, all points in the vicinity of Norton Sound, surface winds from the southeast at 20 knots. Outlook, valid from May 15, 1998, at 0000 to 1800; IFR, ceilings in rain, snow, and mist. Turbulence, isolated moderate turbulence from the surface to 6,000 feet, becoming temporary after 1800. Icing and freezing level, through 1800, temporary light rime icing in clouds, and in precipitation from the surface to 10,000 feet. Freezing level near the surface. Beyond 1600, light isolated moderate rime icing in clouds, and in precipitation, 1,500 feet to 15,000 feet. Freezing level, 1,500 feet."

An amended area forecast for the southern Seward Peninsula, and eastern Norton Sound, issued on May 14, 1998, at 1440, and valid until 0000, incorporated the following changes to the forecast: "...Additionally, all points, surface winds from the east to the southeast at 20 knots. Gusts of 30 knots through channels. ...Icing and freezing level, light isolated moderate rime icing in clouds, and in precipitation, 1,500 feet to 15,000 feet. Freezing level, 1,000 feet."

A terminal forecast for Nome, issued on May 14, 1998, at 0940, and valid from 1000 until 1000 on May 15, 1998, was reporting, in part: "Wind 120 degrees at 12 knots, visibility greater than 6 statute miles. Clouds and sky condition, 600 feet scattered, 2,000 feet scattered, 5,000 feet overcast. Temporary conditions from 1000 to 1200, wind 100 degrees a