Cessna 206G N244PL

Summary

On 17 April 1996 at about 22:55 local time, a Cessna 206G registered N244PL was involved in an accident near Whittier, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 April 1996 at 22:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Whittier, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

60.8510, -148.0306

Aircraft

Cessna 206G

Registration

N244PL

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Main Bay → Anchorage

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC96LA051

2 people were seriously injured.

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

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certificated airline transport pilot and a passenger were attempting to cross a glacier covered mountain pass during a VFR on-demand charter flight in a single engine amphibious float equipped airplane. The pilot had flown the same route several times throughout the day and planned to take a look at the weather conditions to assess the feasibility of crossing the pass. As the flight approached the pass, the visibility began decreasing in light rain drizzle and haze. The pilot began to turn away from the pass but then recognized a known glacier, about 2 miles from his position. The airplane then entered a whiteout condition. The pilot indicated that he lowered the wing flaps and entered a 40 degree bank to the right to begin a 180 degree turn away from the pass. About 2 seconds later, the airplane collided with snow covered terrain. The passenger reported that as the flight approached the pass, the forward visibility decreased to zero in clouds. The airplane collided with rising terrain to the left of the pass area.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.