Cessna S-550 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, January 15, 2006
On January 15, 2006 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Cessna S-550, registered N460M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Anchorage International airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A failure of the driver of a snowplow vehicle to maintain adequate visual lookout while maneuvering on an airport hangar ramp, which resulted in a collision with the accident airplane as it was being marshaled into parking.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 15, 2006 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Anchorage International · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna S-550 · all S-550s on the register
- Registration
- N460M · no longer on the register · serial S550-0022
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
At the conclusion of a cross-country aeromedical flight conducted under Title 14, CFR Part 135, a twin-engine jet airplane was struck by a snowplow vehicle as the airplane was taxiing from landing. The airplane crew were taxiing onto the operator's hangar ramp, and were being directed by company ground personnel utilizing marshalling wands. A private snowplow vehicle was clearing an adjacent ramp area to the south of the operator's hangar apron. While maneuvering the plow truck, the driver began backing up and collided with the left wingtip of the accident airplane. The airplane received structural damage to the left wing and left aileron.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 14,000 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,800 hours in all; 395 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 2,300 as pilot in command; 900 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,320 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, December 1, 2005; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada JT-15D-4B (turbojet); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAFA Fairbanks AK at 5:35 pm
- Destination: PANC Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.67 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 4 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.