Piper PA-31-350 accident near Nome, Alaska, February 19, 2009
On February 19, 2009 at about 10:12 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N41185, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Nome, Alaska (Nome airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was seriously injured and 5 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's continued flight into adverse weather and his failure to maintain clearance from terrain while on approach in flat light conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 19, 2009 · about 10:12 pm local time
- Place
- Nome, Alaska · Nome · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 5 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N41185 · no longer on the register · serial 31-8553001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The scheduled commuter flight was about 10 miles north of the destination airport, operating under a special visual-flight-rules clearance, and descending for landing in instrument meteorological conditions. According to the pilot he started a gradual descent over an area of featureless, snow-covered, down-sloping terrain in whiteout and flat light conditions. During the descent a localized snow shower momentarily reduced the pilot’s forward visibility and he was unable to discern any terrain features. The airplane collided with terrain in an all-white snow/ice field and sustained substantial damage. At the time of the accident the destination airport was reporting visibility of 1.5 statute miles in light snow and mist, broken layers at 900 and 1,600 feet, and 3,200 feet overcast, with a temperature and dew point of 25 degrees Fahrenheit. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane and that the accident could have been avoided if the flight had been operated under an instrument-flight-rules flight plan.
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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Below VFR minima › Decision related to condition
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Flat light › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 24,850 hours in all; 7,500 in this make and model; 22,605 as pilot in command; 750 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 30, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,928 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, February 6, 2009; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,368 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming T10-540-J2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming LT10-540-J2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KTS Brevig Mission AK at 9:35 pm
- Destination: OME Nome AK
- Runway 28, 6,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 250° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 900 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 10:02 pm from OME, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 4 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N41185 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.