ANC99FA108

The pilot obtained a weather briefing prior to departing along a coastal route he had flown several times previously. The FAA FSS briefer advised that VFR flight was not recommended due to low visibility, clouds, and rain. The pilot contacted the destination airport control tower with a position report of five miles west of the Juneau International Airport. The controller responded that the airport was VFR, but conditions were lower to the west, and that two other airplanes to the west were unable to get in due to poor weather conditions. The pilot said he would try to reach the airport from another direction. About nine minutes later, the pilot radioed he was 'turning around.' Seconds later, the controller heard an ELT signal. The airplane wreckage was located about 500 feet msl on an island, about three miles south of the destination airport. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces. A postmortem toxicology test revealed Chlorpheniramine and Dextromethorphan in the pilot's blood and urine. Chlorpheniramine may be found in a number of over-the-counter cold remedies. The warning associated with this compound states, in part: 'Do not drive or operate machinery while taking this medicine as it may cause drowsiness.' Dextromethorphan is used as a cough suppressant.

History of flight

On August 8, 1999, about 1852 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Cessna A185F airplane, N80229, was destroyed during a collision with mountainous terrain, about three miles south of the Juneau International Airport, Juneau, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The certificated private pilot, and the three passengers aboard, received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the flight's intended destination, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Haines Airport, Haines, Alaska, about 1600, and was en route to Juneau.

On August 8, 1999, at 1544, the pilot telephoned the Juneau Flight Service Station (FSS), to get a weather briefing for his flight to Juneau. The flight service station service specialist provided an abbreviated weather briefing, and advised the pilot that VFR flight was not recommend due to reported and forecast low ceilings and visibility. The pilot then filed a VFR flight plan with the specialist.

Witnesses reported that while en route to Juneau, the accident airplane landed about 1630 at the Echo Ranch Bible Camp, located 23 miles northwest of Juneau. The flight departed the Bible camp for Juneau about 1819.

At 1828:20, the pilot contacted the Juneau Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) and reported that he was passing Lena Point, located about 5 miles west of Juneau. According to FAA air traffic control transcripts, the pilot said, "...I've got the uh south tip of Coghlan Island in sight uh is it ok to come in, over?" The ATCT specialist reported that the airport was operating under VFR conditions, but related that weather conditions to the west of the airport were worse. The ATCT specialist commented, "...I have a Caravan holding over Portland Island and a couple aircraft holding at uh Portland Island, one on the ground, and one in the water. They haven't been able to make it in sir, I had a Cherokee a few minutes ago make it in, but it was marginal at best."

At 1829:06, the pilot stated:"...I'd like to uh swing on in to uh Coghlan, and the uh we'll see if we can feel from there, over."

At 1830:49, the pilot said: "...I might swing around, it's pretty good on the outside, and see what uh Outer Point looks like, over."

Between 1842:06 and 1842:09, the accident airplane pilot reported that he was at Outer Point. Outer Point is located about 6 miles southwest of Juneau. The ATCT specialist asked him if he was inbound to the airport, and the accident pilot responded, "uh negative, I think I'll go around the island here, it looks awful low up that way, over."

At 1851:55, The accident airplane pilot advised, "Juneau tower, uh, two two niner, we're turning back, over. No further radio contact from the accident airplane was received.

At 1852, an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) was heard on 121.5 MHz by the Juneau FAA Flight Service Station (FSS) specialist on duty.

During an interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on August 10, a witness located about one-quarter of a mile from the accident site, reported that while sitting in her truck she heard what sounded like a low flying airplane headed towards her. She said: "I was really surprised to hear an airplane flying since the weather was so bad." She added that as the airplane engine sound got louder, she got out of her truck, and saw the accident airplane flying very low over the tree tops. She said: "I saw the airplane just fly out of the clouds, just a few feet from the tree tops, and make a hard right turn. I couldn't believe he was turning to the right, into the hillside." She said that as she lost sight of the airplane behind the trees, the engine speed increased significantly, followed by the sound of the airplane impacting trees.

The witness reported that immediately after hearing the impact, she reported the accident to the 911 fire emergency operator using her cellular phone. A ground search was initiated by the U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska State Troopers, Juneau Police, and Juneau-Douglas fire department.

Rescue personnel tracked an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal, and discovered the airplane wreckage about 2000, located about the 500 feet level of north Douglas Island, in an area of steep, heavily wooded terrain.

Crew information

The pilot held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land and sea ratings. He did not hold an instrument rating. The most recent third-class medical certificate was issued to the pilot on June 15, 1999. It contained the limitation that read: "not valid for night flight or by color signal control."

No current personal flight records were located for the pilot. The aeronautical experience listed on page 3 of this report was obtained from the pilot's last airman's medical application of June 6, 1999. On that application, the pilot indicated that his total aeronautical experience as 3,220 flight hours.

Additional pilot history information was provided by the Juneau Flight Standards District Office, noting that the accident pilot's last recorded biennial flight review (BFR) was conducted on November 16, 1996. The inspector related that during his investigation, he was unable to locate any record that a subsequent BFR had been accomplished. A copy of the FAA inspectors statement is included in this report.

Aircraft information

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector from the Juneau Flight Standards District Office, examined the airplane's maintenance records. He reported that the most recent annual inspection of the engine and airframe, was accomplished on March 6, 1999. At that time, the airplane and engine had accrued 1,797.0 hours in service. He added that at the time of the accident the total airframe time was estimated to be 1,831, or 34.0 hours after the annual inspection was accomplished.

Meteorological information

The closest official weather observation station is Juneau, which is located about three nautical miles north of the accident site. On August 8, 1999, at 1853, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting in part: Wind, 080 degrees at 6 knots; visibility, 4 statute miles in light rain and mist; clouds, 500 feet scattered, 1,300 feet broken, 3,000 feet overcast; temperature, 57 degrees F; dew point, 55 degrees F; altimeter, 29.88 inHg.

A pilot that was inbound to the Juneau International Seaplane Base, characterized the weather conditions along the accident airplane's route as "very low visibility with rain, fog, and very low ceilings." She added that due to the deteriorating weather conditions, she elected to land and wait for better weather conditions before proceeding to Juneau.

The terminal forecast for the Juneau area, issue on August 8, 1999, at 1530, and valid from 1600 until August 9, 1999, at 1600, was reporting, in part: "Wind, 120 degrees at 8 knots; visibility greater than 6 statute miles; clouds, 800 feet scattered. Temporary conditions between 1600, and August 9, at 1600; visibility 4 statute miles in light rain and mist; clouds, 1,200 feet broken 2,500; ceiling, 2,500 feet overcast. From August 9, at 0800; wind, 000 degrees at 8 knots; visibility, greater than 6 statute miles in light rain; clouds, 800 feet scattered; ceilings, 3,500 feet overcast. Temporary conditions between 0800 and 1600 on August 9, 1999; visibility 5 statute miles in rain and mist; clouds, 1,500 feet broken; ceiling, 2,500 feet overcast.

Communications

A transcript of telephone, and air to ground communications between the accident airplane, the FSS, and ATCT are included in this report.

Wreckage and impact information

The National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge examin