Cessna 402 accident near Kivalina, Alaska, February 27, 1994
On February 27, 1994 at about 1:22 am local time, a Cessna 402, registered N681RC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kivalina, Alaska (Kivalina airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS BY LANDING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. FACTORS WERE: INADEQUATE SNOW REMOVAL AND THE SNOW COVERED RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 27, 1994 · about 1:22 am local time
- Place
- Kivalina, Alaska · Kivalina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 402 · all 402s on the register
- Registration
- N681RC · registry record · serial 0002
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LANDED AT NIGHT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY WITH A 19 KT CROSSWIND COMPONENT FROM THE LEFT. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO DRIFT LEFT TOWARD DRIFTING SNOW, AND SUDDENLY VEERED LEFT AND DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE RUNWAY WAS PLOWED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT STATED HE HIT A SNOW DRIFT DURING LANDING.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,036 hours in all; 384 in this make and model; 429 in the last 90 days; 151 in the last 30 days; 3,812 as pilot in command; 880 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,011 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, February 10, 1994; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,190 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-VB (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Baker Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: OTZ Kotzebue AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 12, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 020° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: -6°F (-21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.