Construcciones Aeronauticas SA C-212-CC accident near Kotzebue, Alaska, February 14, 2009
On February 14, 2009 at about 3:02 pm local time, a Construcciones Aeronauticas SA C-212-CC, registered N440RA, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Kotzebue, Alaska (Kotzebue airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight crew's decision to continue flight into adverse weather. Contributing to the accident was blowing snow which limited their visibility during final approach to land.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 14, 2009 · about 3:02 pm local time · cases in 2009
- Place
- Kotzebue, Alaska · Kotzebue · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Construcciones Aeronauticas SA C-212-CC · all C-212-CCs on the register
- Registration
- N440RA · registry record · serial 174
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport certificated captain and commercial certificated first officer were on a non-scheduled domestic cargo flight. The captain stated that while en route to the destination airport, the weather at the airport dropped below visual flight rules (VFR) minimums, and he received a special VFR clearance. He said that the local area and runway were covered with snow, but when he turned final he could see the airport beacon and associated buildings. He said about 200 feet above the ground on approach he lost sight of the runway environment, and asked the first officer if he could see anything. When the first officer said no, and reported their altitude at 50 feet agl, the captain said he initiated a go-around, but the airplane impacted the terrain short of the runway. The captain reported that there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane or its instruments prior to the accident. The Director of Operations for the operator said the airplane sustained structural damage to the fuselage near the left main landing gear. An Federal Aviation Administration flight service specialist at the airport said the visibility had been about 1-1/4 miles, but dropped to 1/4-mile rapidly during the time of the approach. Weather observations taken at the airport showed that about 3 minutes before the accident, the visibility was 1 mile in light snow and blowing snow, wind as 160 degrees at 28 knots gusting to 32. About 1 minute before the accident, the visibility was reported as 1/4-mile in light snow and blowing snow, wind from 160 degrees at 33 knots gusting to 36. About 3 minutes after the accident, the visibility remained at 1/4-mile in light snow and blowing snow, and the wind was reported as 170 degrees at 35 knots with gusts to 42.
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
What happened, in order
- VFR encounter with IMC during enroute
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › (general) › (general) › Flight crew
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Snow › Decision related to condition
- factor Environmental issues › Task environment › Physical workspace › Visibility › Effect on personnel
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Snow › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,377 hours in all; 4,020 in this make and model; 227 in the last 90 days; 59 in the last 30 days; 3,910 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 19, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,229 hours in all; 862 in this make and model; 138 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 228 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 29, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 29,161 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 21, 2009
- Seats: 28
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Honeywell TPE-331-10R-5 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Honeywell TPE-331-10R-5 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Arctic Transportation Services INC
The flight
- Departed from: PAIK Kiana AK at 2:40 pm
- Destination: PAQT Kotzebue
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 28 knots, gusting 32
- Visibility: 0.2 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,900 ft; a few clouds at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.60 inHg
- Observation at 3:01 pm from PAQT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 24, 2009. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Data | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N440RA on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Construcciones Aeronauticas Sa C-212 16 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Honeywell TPE-331-10R-5 27 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Honeywell TPE-331-10R-5 27 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Nuiqsut Airport · nearest airport
- Bob Baker Memorial · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 825 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,142 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC09LA019.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.