Piper PA-31-350 N41185

Summary

On 19 February 2009 at about 22:12 local time, a Piper PA-31-350 registered N41185, operated by Frontier Flying Service, was involved in an accident near Nome, Alaska, United States. 6 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 5 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

19 February 2009 at 22:12

Classification

Accident

Location

Nome, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Nome (OME)

Coordinates

64.5122, -165.4450

Aircraft

Piper PA-31-350

Registration

N41185

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Frontier Flying Service

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Brevig Mission → Nome

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

ANC09LA021

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's continued flight into adverse weather and his failure to maintain clearance from terrain while on approach in flat light conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The scheduled commuter flight was about 10 miles north of the destination airport, operating under a special visual-flight-rules clearance, and descending for landing in instrument meteorological conditions. According to the pilot he started a gradual descent over an area of featureless, snow-covered, down-sloping terrain in whiteout and flat light conditions. During the descent a localized snow shower momentarily reduced the pilot’s forward visibility and he was unable to discern any terrain features. The airplane collided with terrain in an all-white snow/ice field and sustained substantial damage. At the time of the accident the destination airport was reporting visibility of 1.5 statute miles in light snow and mist, broken layers at 900 and 1,600 feet, and 3,200 feet overcast, with a temperature and dew point of 25 degrees Fahrenheit. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane and that the accident could have been avoided if the flight had been operated under an instrument-flight-rules flight plan.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.