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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

February 16, 2009 · Beech 65-A90-1 · N418SP

Soldotna, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 16, 2009
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Soldotna, AK
Aircraft
Beech 65-A90-1
Tail Number
N418SP
Operator
Missionary Aviation Repair Center
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC09CA020

The airline transport pilot was making a personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91. The pilot said when he arrived at the destination airport there was 3-4 inches of new snow, and that the overcast and low light condition made everything look gray. He said the visual approach slope indicator (VASI) lights were inoperative, and the appropriate notice to airman (NOTAM) was issued. He said he turned on the runway lights, identified what he thought was the runway surface, and lined up the runway edge lights on his left. After the airplane touched down he said he realized that he landed to the right of the runway surface, with the right side runway edge lights on his left. The pilot said the airplane settled into deep snow, and impacted a snowbank, collapsing the landing gear. In a written statement the pilot wrote that given the snow and light conditions, using the wide area augmentation system (WAAS) instrument flight rules (IFR) approach would have aligned the airplane with the runway surface. The pilot said there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The airplane sustained structural fuselage damage during the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's misidentification of the runway surface during landing. Contributing to the accident were the snow-covered terrain, and low-light conditions.

Full Narrative

The airline transport pilot was making a personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91. The pilot said when he arrived at the destination airport there was 3-4 inches of new snow, and that the overcast and low light condition made everything look gray. He said the visual approach slope indicator (VASI) lights were inoperative, and the appropriate notice to airman (NOTAM) was issued. He said he turned on the runway lights, identified what he thought was the runway surface, and lined up the runway edge lights on his left. After the airplane touched down he said he realized that he landed to the right of the runway surface, with the right side runway edge lights on his left. The pilot said the airplane settled into deep snow, and impacted a snowbank, collapsing the landing gear. In a written statement the pilot wrote that given the snow and light conditions, using the wide area augmentation system (WAAS) instrument flight rules (IFR) approach would have aligned the airplane with the runway surface. The pilot said there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The airplane sustained structural fuselage damage during the accident.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:00 AKST
Nearest AirportSOLDOTNA (0nm)
Runway07
Runway Length5000 ft
Runway Width130 ft
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech 65-A90-1
Tail NumberN418SP
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorMissionary Aviation Repair Center
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsPratt & Whitney · PT6A-20 · Turboprop · 550 | Pratt & Whitney · PT6A-20 · Turboprop · 550
Seats9

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 52 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 9000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point34 C / 30 C
Altimeter29.50 inHg
Observation Time19:16
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data