Casa 212-200 accident near Savoonga, Alaska, September 18, 2009
On September 18, 2009 at about 10:12 pm local time, a Casa 212-200, registered N349TA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Savoonga, Alaska (Savoonga 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 visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in a gusting crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 2009 · about 10:12 pm local time · cases in 2009
- Place
- Savoonga, Alaska · Savoonga Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Casa 212-200
- Registration
- N349TA · registry record · serial 349
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The crew noted overcast skies, light rain, and a gusty crosswind prior to landing on runway 5, which was approximately 4,400 feet long by 100 feet wide and composed of gravel. The captain, who was the pilot flying, noted that he used full flaps during the landing approach and had to make significant corrections for the crosswind, which was reported to be from 010 degrees at 26 knots, gusting to 34 knots. The captain reported that during the landing roll, despite the use of differential power and other control adjustments, he could not maintain directional control and the airplane went off the right side of the runway. Postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane’s flight manual suggests not using full flaps while landing in strong crosswind due to controllability issues and also recommends that the pilot reduce the crosswind component if the runway conditions are slippery.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Flight crew
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Wet › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 29,025 hours in all; 4,904 in this make and model; 254 in the last 90 days; 97 in the last 30 days; 28,425 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 13, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 280 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 300 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 8, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,906 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 7, 2009; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 16,976 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Honeywell TPE331-10R511 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Honeywell TPE331-10R511 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bering Air Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: OME Nome AK at 4:12 pm
- Destination: SVA Savoonga AK
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
- Runway 05, 4,400 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 28 knots, gusting 33
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 5:16 pm from SVA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
13 documents, released by the NTSB on November 29, 2010. 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 | Witness Statement - Record of Conversation S Morgan | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statement - Record of Conversation N Carver | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 1 - Accident Site (S Morgan Pilot) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo 2 - Accident Site (S Morgan) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo 3 - Right Wing (Bering Air) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo 4 - Runway Surface (Bering Air) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Photo 5 - Landing Gear Tire (FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Photo 6 - Landing Gear Tire (FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Reports from Federal Agencies - NOTAM | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 11 | Reports from Federal Agencies - FAA Certified Weather | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 12 | Reports from Local Agencies - Alaska State Trooper Report | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 13 | Excerpt Casa Approved Flight Manual - Crosswind Information | PDF, 2 pages | 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
- N349TA on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Casa 7 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Honeywell TPE331-10R511 27 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Honeywell TPE331-10R511 27 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Savoonga Airport · nearest airport
- Nome Airport · 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/ANC09LA104.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.