Beech 1900C accident near Sitka, Alaska, October 18, 2010
On October 18, 2010 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Beech 1900C, registered N111AX, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Sitka, Alaska (Sitka airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A lightning strike which resulted in substantial damage to the elevator.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 18, 2010 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sitka, Alaska · Sitka · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 1900C · all 1900Cs on the register
- Registration
- N111AX · registry record · serial UC-81
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The captain, who was the non-flying pilot, reported that he altered their course to avoid thunderstorm activity. Once clear of the thunderstorms, they flew direct to the initial instrument approach fix. During the instrument approach to land, the flight crew saw a build up of static electricity, known as St. Elmo's fire, near the nose of the airplane. The first officer reported that the light from the static electricity was very bright, and he decided to keep his eyes focused on the instruments. Shortly thereafter, lightning struck the nose of the airplane and the associated flash temporarily blinded the captain. The first officer continued to fly the approach without difficulty. Once the captain regained his sight, he took the flight controls and completed the landing. During a postaccident inspection of the airplane, the flight crew discovered substantial damage to the right elevator.
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
- Other weather encounter during approach
- Miscellaneous/other during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Convective weather › Lightning › Effect on equipment
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Empennage structure › Elevators › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 2,800 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 21, 2010
- 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
- Flight time: 860 hours in all; 375 in this make and model; 175 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 8, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 56,862 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 29, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 17,600 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: P&W Canada PT6A-60A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W Canada PT6A-60A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Alaska Central Express INC
The flight
- Departed from: PAJN Juneau AK at 9:08 am
- Destination: PAJN Juneau AK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 11, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 180° at 13 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; scat at 3,100 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.55 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from PASI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 3 |
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 N111AX 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.