GENERAL INFORMATION FOR NTSB REPORT: ANC00LA027
Data Source |
NTSB AVIATION ACCIDENT/INCIDENT DATABASE |
NTSB Report Nbr |
ANC00LA027 |
Event Id |
20001212X20440 |
Local Date |
02/09/2000 |
Local Time |
1205 |
State |
AK |
Airport Name |
WALES |
Event Type |
ACCIDENT |
Injury Severity |
SERIOUS |
Record Status |
FINAL |
Mid Air Collision |
NO |
Event Location |
ON AIRPORT/AIRSTRIP |
WEATHER INFORMATION
Weather Briefing Complete |
UNKNOWN |
Basic Weather Conditions |
VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL COND |
Light Condition |
DAY |
Cloud Condition |
UNKNOWN |
Cloud Height above Ground Level (ft) |
0 |
Ceiling Height above Ground Level (ft) |
500 |
Cloud Type |
OVERCAST |
Visibility RVR (ft) |
0 |
Visibility RVV (sm) |
0 |
Visibility (sm) |
2 |
Wind Direction (deg) |
165 |
Wind Condition Flag |
U |
Wind Speed (knots) |
15 |
Wind Condition Indicated |
Unknown |
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
Aircraft 1
Type of Operation |
PART 135: AIR TAXI & COMMUTER |
Registration Number |
N110JK |
Aircraft Make |
PIPER |
Aircraft Model |
PA31T |
Aircraft Series |
3 |
Aircraft Damage |
SUBSTANTIAL |
Aircraft Fire |
NONE |
Aircraft Explosion |
NONE |
Aircraft Type |
AIRPLANE |
Aircraft Homebuilt |
UNKNOWN |
Phase of Flight |
APPROACH |
Aircraft Use |
UNKNOWN |
Category of Operation |
SCHEDULED |
Flight Plan Filed |
VFR |
Domestic/International |
DOMESTIC |
Passenger/Cargo |
PASSENGER ONLY |
Operator Name |
CAPE SMYTHE AIR SERVICE |
Operator Doing Business As |
|
Owner Name |
CAPE SMYTHE AIR SERVICE INC. |
Number of Seats |
10 |
Number of Engines |
2 |
ELT Installed |
YES |
ELT Operated |
YES |
Departure Airport Id |
PAOM |
Departure City |
NOME |
Departure State |
ALASKA |
Last Departure Point |
NO |
Destination Local |
CRASH AT DESTINATION CITY |
Destination Airport Id |
IWK |
Destination City |
|
Runway Id |
35 |
Runway Length |
4000 |
Runway Width |
75 |
Air Carrier Operating Certificates |
YES |
Air Carrier Other Operating Certificates |
UNKNOWN |
Rotocraft/Agriculture Operating Certificate |
UNKNOWN |
Cert Max Gross Wgt |
9000 |
Landing Gear |
RETR |
ENGINE INFORMATION
Aircraft 1 - Engine : #1
Engine Manufactuer
| P&W |
Engine Model
| PT6A-11 |
Engine Horsepower
| 550 |
Engine Thrust
| HP |
INJURY INFORMATION
Injury Summary for Aircraft 1
|
Fatal |
Serious |
Minor |
None |
Crew |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Pass |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Total |
0 |
2 |
7 |
0 |
Sequence of Events for Aircraft 1
Occurrence #1 IN FLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH WEATHER
Phase of Operation: APPROACH - VFR PATTERN - BASE TO FINAL
Events Sequence for Occurrence #1 of Aircraft 1
Event Seq # |
Event Group Code |
Subject |
Modifier |
Personnel |
Cause/Factor |
1 |
1 |
WEATHER CONDITION |
TURBULENCE, TERRAIN INDUCED |
|
FACTOR |
2 |
2 |
WEATHER EVALUATION |
INADEQUATE |
PILOT IN COMMAND |
CAUSE |
3 |
1 |
WEATHER CONDITION |
TAILWIND |
|
FACTOR |
Occurrence #2 LOSS OF CONTROL - IN FLIGHT
Phase of Operation: APPROACH - VFR PATTERN - FINAL APPROACH
Events Sequence for Occurrence #2 of Aircraft 1
Event Seq # |
Event Group Code |
Subject |
Modifier |
Personnel |
Cause/Factor |
1 |
2 |
FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER |
INADVERTENT |
PILOT IN COMMAND |
CAUSE |
Occurrence #3 IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN/WATER
Phase of Operation: DESCENT - UNCONTROLLED
Events Sequence for Occurrence #3 of Aircraft 1
Event Seq # |
Event Group Code |
Subject |
Modifier |
Personnel |
Cause/Factor |
1 |
1 |
TERRAIN CONDITION |
RUNWAY |
|
|
AIRCRAFT 1 PRELIMINARY REPORT
On February 9, 2000, about 1205 Alaska standard time, a Piper PA-31-T3 airplane, N110JK, sustained substantial damage while landing at Wales, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) scheduled domestic passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated as Flight 350 by Cape Symthe Air Service Inc., Barrow, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot, and one passenger received serious injuries. Seven passengers received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Nome Airport, Nome, Alaska, at 1115.
The director of maintenance for the operator reported the airplane was landing on runway 35. A mechanic for the company traveled to the scene, and described impact marks beginning 1,200 feet from the approach end of runway 35. The mechanic said it appeared to him that the airplane struck the runway with the left wing and left elevator, with the airplane yawed about 45 degrees to the left of the runway centerline, and that the airplane then slid off the left side of the runway, through a snow berm, and came to rest about 200 feet to the left of the runway.
The director of maintenance said the weather conditions at Wales, reported by the Fairbanks, Alaska, Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) were: Wind, 180 degrees at 15 knots, gust to 20 knots; visibility, 10 miles; clouds and sky condition, 1,500 feet broken; temperature, 30 degrees F.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), interviewed six of the passengers after their return to Nome. He said the passengers reported the flight arrived over Wales, and the airplane spiraled down through a hole in the clouds. Once below the cloud layer, the pilot began a landing approach. During the turn onto the final approach segment, the airplane began oscillating violently, rolling several times left and right, with the angle of bank near 90 degrees each time. The airplane then struck the runway.
In the Pilot/Operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) submitted by the company, the pilot included a statement. In his statement, the pilot said that during the approach for landing at Wales, he made three descending turns near the airport. Upon entering the downwind portion of the landing approach, the pilot said he noticed the wind sock at the airport was indicating a wind from the east about 25 knots. About mid-base, at 500 feet, the airplane encountered moderate turbulence and an increased rate of descent. He added engine power to arrest the descent. As the pilot turned toward the runway, the airplane encountered 3 to 4 rolling oscillations with a bank angle up to 90 degrees while descending toward the runway. The airplane collided with a snow berm along the west side of the runway. After the airplane came to a stop, the pilot said he evacuated the passengers, and noticed the wind sock had changed from a crosswind to a tailwind.
The airport at Wales is located along the west coast of the Seward Peninsula, next to the Bering Sea. Rising, hilly terrain is located east of the airport. Runway 35 at Wales is 4,000 feet long, and 75 feet wide. The runway surface was packed snow. The Airport/Facility Directory - Alaska Supplement, contains the following in the airport remarks: "Unattended. Easterly winds may cause severe turbulence in vicinity of runway. Runway conditions not monitored, recommend visual inspection prior to landing..."
The closest official weather observation station is Tin City Long Range Radar Station, which is located 5 nautical miles southeast of Wales. On February 9, 1999, at 1155, an automated weather observation system was reporting in part: Wind, 165 degrees (magnetic) at 15 knots; visibility, 2 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 500 feet overcast; temperature, 26 degrees F; dew point, 24 degrees F; altimeter, 30.02 inHg.
AIRCRAFT 1 FINAL REPORT
The airline transport certificated pilot was landing a twin-engine turboprop airplane at a remote airport on a scheduled air taxi flight. Rising hilly terrain is located east of the airport. The pilot said that during the approach for landing, he noticed the airport wind sock indicating a wind from the east about 25 knots. When the pilot descended to 500 feet, about mid-base, the airplane encountered moderate turbulence and an increased rate of descent. He added engine power to arrest the descent. As he turned toward the runway, the airplane encountered 3 to 4 rolling oscillations with a bank angle up to 90 degrees while descending toward the runway. According to a company mechanic who traveled to the scene, it appeared that the airplane struck the runway about 1,200 feet from the approach end with the left wing and left elevator, while yawed about 45 degrees to the left of the runway centerline. The airplane then slid off the left side of the runway. After the collision, the pilot evacuated the passengers, and noticed the airport wind sock was indicating a tailwind. The Airport/Facility Directory contains the following in the airport remarks: 'Unattended. Easterly winds may cause severe turbulence in vicinity of runway.'
AIRCRAFT 1 CAUSE REPORT
The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather conditions, and his inadvertent flight into adverse weather conditions. Factors in the accident were terrain induced turbulence and a tailwind.
END REPORT