NTSB Factual Report

On March 2, 2003, about 1504 Alaska standard time, a Cessna 208 airplane, N205BA, sustained substantial damage when it collided with ice and snow-covered terrain during the final approach phase of a visual flight rules (VFR) landing, about 1 mile from the approach end of runway 08 at the Ralph Wien Memorial Airport, Kotzebue, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by Bering Air, Nome, Alaska, as a VFR cross-country positioning flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airline transport certificated pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the airport, and the airplane was operating under a special VFR clearance. The flight originated at the Shungnak Airport, Shungnak, Alaska, at 1358, and a VFR flight plan was filed.

The director of operations for the operator reported the airplane was returning to Kotzebue from Shungnak without passengers at the conclusion of an on-demand air taxi flight. Shungnak is located about 128 miles east of Kotzebue.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on March 3, 2003, the pilot reported that when he departed from Shungnak, the visibility at Kotzebue was greater than 6 miles. As he neared Kotzebue, the visibility had decreased and several airplanes in the area were requesting special VFR clearances into the Class E surface area. He requested a special VFR clearance but had to hold outside the area for other VFR and IFR traffic. Once he was cleared to enter the surface area, the pilot said he established a GPS waypoint 4 miles from the runway and descended to 1,000 feet. He continued inbound and descended to 300 feet. At 1 mile from the airport, the pilot said he looked up from the instrument panel but could not see the airport. He also stated that he was in a whiteout condition. The airplane collided with the snow-covered sea ice, short of the runway threshold.

A review of a transcript of the air/ground radio communications tapes maintained by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at the Kotzebue Flight Service Station (FSS) facility revealed that about 1120, the pilot obtained area weather information and filed a VFR flight plan for a 4.5 hour flight departing from Kotzebue, stopping at several remote villages and returning. The pilot inquired from the FSS specialist about anticipated weather conditions by stating, in part: "...what time do they figure that low weather is suppose to hit us?" The specialist replied: "...in the terminal [forecast] it says one o'clock, but I think it's going to be later than that. Deering, [Alaska, about 50 miles south of Kotzebue] and Buckland, [Alaska, about 65 miles southeast of Kotzebue] have some lower ceilings, but their winds aren't really that strong yet, so might be a little holding off a little longer than what they had." The pilot replied, in part: "Okay, we'll kind of keep track of it..."

The FSS specialist informed the pilot that: "Caravan 5BA roger, and due to the airmets, I do have to tell you VFR flight [is] not recommended." The specialist then provided a pilot weather report from the area of Ambler, Alaska, that indicated the ceiling was 3,000 feet overcast, the visibility was unrestricted, the wind at 1,500 feet was 090 degrees at 30 knots, but calm at the surface. Ambler is located 112 miles east-northeast of Kotzebue. The FSS specialist then provided a Kotzebue airport advisory that included an altimeter setting of 29.54 inHg. The pilot acknowledged the weather information and departed from Kotzebue about 1123.

At 1441, the pilot contacted the Kotzebue FSS via radio and stated, in part: "and Kotzebue, Caravan 205BA, I got your weather and stuff, and I'll hold outside your Class Echo surface area until arrival of the IFR inbound, and then I'd like to get a special, maintaining separation with the outbound Charlie Foxtrot." The pilot then indicated he was holding 10 miles to the northeast. At 1445, the pilot told the FSS specialist he was holding at Pipe Spit (located about 7.5 miles northeast of the Kotzebue airport).

At 1449, the pilot contacted the Kotzebue FSS and stated, in part: "...5 Bravo Alphas losing visibility over there at Pipe Spit, I'm going over to the mouth of the Noatak [river] area." The mouth of the Noatak is about 7.5 miles north of the Kotzebue airport. At 1452, the pilot provided a pilot report of the weather conditions to the FSS specialist by stating: "Yeah, it's pretty grim out to the east right now (unintelligible) northwest towards Noatak, Kivalina is still real good, but I'm getting where I can't see Lockhart Point from the mouth of the Noatak." Lockhart Point is about 5 miles north of the Kotzebue airport.

At 1453, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at Kotzebue was reporting, in part: Wind, 080 degrees (true) at 26 knots; visibility, 1 statute mile, runway 08 visibility variable from 5,500 to greater than 6,000 feet in light snow and blowing snow; clouds and sky condition, few at 1,300 feet, 2,000 feet broken, 2,700 feet overcast; temperature, 30 degrees F; dew point, 29 degrees F; altimeter, 29.51 inHg; remarks, peak wind 080 degrees at 33 knots at 1427, snow began at 1434.

At 1458, the Kotzebue FSS specialist issued a clearance to the pilot by stating, in part: " ATC clears Caravan 205BA to enter the Kotzebue surface area. Maintain special VFR conditions at or below 1,500 feet.... Report landing complete...Airport advisory, wind 080 [degrees] at 25 [knots], gusting to 33 [knots], favoring runway 08; altimeter 29.51." The pilot acknowledged the clearance.

At 1501, a special aviation weather observation stated, in part: Wind, 080 degrees (true) at 26 knots; visibility, 3/4 statute mile, runway 08 visibility variable from 3,500 to greater than 6,000 feet in light snow and blowing snow; clouds and sky condition, 1,100 feet broken, 2,000 feet overcast; temperature, 30 degrees F; dew point, 29 degrees F; altimeter, 29.50 inHg.

At 1504, FSS personnel picked up an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal and attempted to contact the pilot. The pilot acknowledged that he had crashed. FSS personnel notified search and rescue personnel and kept in radio contact with the pilot. At 1514, the pilot commented: "...I'm alright, bumped my head and bleeding a little bit, but other than that I must not a had the altimeter set quite right. I still got it showing couple hundred feet here so I must a misheard you or mis misaligned it or something."

A transcript of the air to ground communications between the airplane and the Kotzebue FSS facility is included in the public docket of this accident.

At 1507, a special weather observation stated, in part: Wind, 080 degrees (true) at 27 knots; visibility, 1/2 statute mile, runway 08 visibility variable from 2,800 to 4,500 feet in snow and blowing snow; clouds and sky condition, 700 feet broken, 1,800 feet overcast; temperature, 30 degrees F; dew point, 29 degrees F; altimeter, 29.50 inHg. At 1511, visibility for runway 08 was reported to be 2,400 to 3,500 feet in snow and blowing snow.

An area forecast issued at 0545 for the northern Seward Peninsula, and the lower Kobuk Valley, valid until 2400, stated, in part: "...AIRMETS are valid until 1200. AIRMET for IFR conditions and mountain obscuration, northern Seward Peninsula, mountains occasionally obscured in clouds and light snow, no change. Clouds and weather for northern Seward Peninsula, valid until 1800, 2,000 feet scattered, 1,500 feet broken, tops at 12,000 feet, layers above to 28,000 feet. Occasionally, 2,000 feet overcast; visibility, 3 to 5 statute miles in light snow. Elsewhere, 5,000 feet scattered, 10,000 feet, broken, layers above to 28,000 feet. Outlook, valid from 1800 to 1200 on March 3, 2003; IFR with ceilings due to snow and blowing snow and wind. Turbulence, nothing significant. Icing and freezing level, nothing significant, freezing level at the surface."

An area forecast issued at 1145 for the northern Seward Peninsula, and the lower Kobuk Valley, valid until 0600 on March 3rd, stated, in part: "...AIRMETS are valid until 1800. AIRMET for IFR conditions and mountain obscuration, Kotzebue south, spreading north. Occasional ceilings below 1,000 feet and visibilities below 3 statute miles in light snow, blowing snow and mist, intensifying. Otherwise, Kotzebue south, spreading north, 500 feet scattered, 1,500 feet broken to overcast, 5,000 feet overcast, tops at 7,000 feet. Widely separated layers above, tops at 26,000 feet. Occasionally, visibility, 3 to 5 statute miles in light snow and mist. North of Kotzebue, until the above listed change, few clouds at 2,500 feet, 6,000 feet scattered, 12,000 feet broken, few layers above, tops at 26,000 feet. After 1500, all stations, surface wind increasing to southeast at 29 knots, gusts to 30 knots... AIRMET for turbulence after 1500, occasional moderate turbulence below 6,000 feet, intensifying. Icing and freezing level, Kotzebue south, spreading north, occasional moderate rime icing in clouds from 1,500 to 7,000 feet. Freezing level at the surface, intensifying."

A terminal forecast for the Kotzebue area, issued on March 2, at 0820 and valid from 0900 until 0900 on March 3, stated, in part: "Wind, 060 degrees (true) at 14 knots; visibility, greater than 6 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 500 feet scattered, 2,500 feet overcast. Temporary changes expected between 0900 and 1300, visibility, 3 statute miles in light snow and mist; 1,000 feet broken. From 1300, wind, 100 degrees (true) at 22 knots; visibility, 4 statute miles in light blowing snow; 400 feet scattered, 2,000 feet overcast. Temporary changes expected between 1300 and 1700, visibility, 3/4 statute mile in light blowing snow; vertical visibility, 500 feet..."

A terminal forecast for the Kotzebue area, issued on March 2, at 1438 and valid from 1500 until 1500 on March 3, stated, in part: "Wind, 080 degrees (true) at 27 knots; visibility, 6 statute miles in blowing snow; clouds and sky condition, few at 1,200 feet, 10,000 feet broken. Temporary changes expected between 1500 and 1700, visibility, 3 statute miles in light blowing snow; 1,200 feet overcast..."

Following the accident, an FAA inspector from the Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office, Fairbanks, Alaska, examined the airplane. He reported the airplane's radar altimeter was set at 200 feet, and the airplane's barometric altimeter was set at 29.69 inHg.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and his failure to maintain altitude/clearance above the ground, resulting in a collision with snow and ice covered terrain during the final approach phase of a VFR landing. Factors in the accident were whiteout conditions and snow-covered terrain.