Cessna 207A N9400M

Summary

On 26 October 1998 at about 00:00 local time, a Cessna 207A registered N9400M was involved in an accident near Noorvik, Alaska, United States. 5 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 October 1998 at 00:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Noorvik, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

66.8309, -161.0302

Aircraft

Cessna 207A

Registration

N9400M

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kiana → Selawik

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

ANC99LA008

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors in the accident were a dark night and low ceilings.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certificated commercial pilot, and four passengers, departed a remote airport on a VFR scheduled air taxi flight during dark night conditions over snow-covered terrain. The pilot said he obtained weather information from his home computer, pilot reports, and his personal observations. After takeoff, the pilot deviated around an area of small mountains located between the departure and destination airports. The pilot said his deviation was planned to maintain a minimum of 1,000 feet above the ground, and below icing conditions. During the flight, the pilot encountered a snow shower. The pilot said he did not have any outside visual references to navigate by. He depended upon the airplane's directional gyro for course information, and said the gyro rotated to the left, placing the airplane near a mountain. The airplane collided with snow covered terrain about 900 feet msl. Passengers reported they could not see the ground, and were not aware of any problem until the airplane came to an abrupt stop. An area forecast included an AIRMET for mountain obscuration. The forecast also included light isolated moderate rime icing in clouds, and marginal VFR ceilings in snow and mist.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.