N454SFCessna 208B · 1999

On February 4, 2020, about 1550 Alaska standard time, a Cessna 208B airplane, N454SF, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Hooper Bay, Alaska. The pilot and seven passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 scheduled passenger flight.

According to the pilot, the departure was delayed about 3 hours due to the weather conditions on the day of the accident, which included snow, low visibility, and flat light. Before departing, the pilot received runway reports from the company dispatch that all destination airport runways were suitable. After performing a risk analysis and gathering more weather information, the pilot departed on the flight.

While en route to the first airport, he chose to cancel the second leg of the flight due to deteriorating weather conditions, and he informed company dispatch that he would return with all of the passengers to the departure airport. After landing and loading the passengers and baggage, the pilot taxied the airplane for departure. He stated that flat light conditions prevailed and that it was difficult to see down the runway or have any depth perception. He initiated the takeoff with 20° of flaps selected and noticed no issues during the initial takeoff roll. He then noticed that the airspeed was not increasing fast enough but decided that there was inadequate runway remaining on which to abort the takeoff.

The airplane became airborne, and the stall warning horn activated as the airplane cleared the departure end of the runway. The pilot attempted to maneuver the airplane in ground effect, but the airplane settled, and the main landing gear impacted the snow-covered terrain. The nose wheel impacted the snow, and the airplane came to rest upright about 150 ft from the end of the runway. The engine mount sustained substantial damage.

The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

The pilot added that there was about 3 to 5 inches of wet, heavy snow on the runway at the time of departure.

The Chart Supplement Alaska discussed the airport information for HPB effective January 30, 2020, and stated under airport remarks:

- Unattended. Runway condition not monitored; recommend visual inspection prior to using.

On January 15, 2008, about 1439 Alaska Standard time, a Cessna 208B airplane, N454SF, sustained substantial damage when it collided with snow-covered terrain during the landing flare at the Bethel Airport, Bethel, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country air medical flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Grant Aviation Inc., Anchorage, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot, a paramedic passenger, and two medical patients/passengers, were not injured. A second paramedic passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Sheldon Point Airport, Sheldon Point, Alaska, about 1315.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on January 15, the director of operations for the operator reported that the pilot was planning to land on runway 18 at Bethel. Instead, the airplane touched down in a snow-covered area of the airport, between the runway and the adjacent taxiway, collapsing the nose landing gear.

On January 17, the director of maintenance for the operator reported that the airplane sustained structural damage to the firewall and forward fuselage bulkhead.

At 1437, a special weather observation at Bethel was reporting, in part: Wind, 160 degrees (true) at 17 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 1,400 feet scattered, 2,900 feet scattered, 3,500 feet broken; temperature, 30 degrees F; dew point, 27 degrees F; altimeter, 29.36 inHg; remarks, occasional localized low drifting snow and blowing snow.

In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the operator, the pilot reported that during the landing approach, blowing snow and flat lighting conditions contributed to his difficulty in discerning the correct location of the runway. He said he "aimed for the darker area between the runway and the taxiway, believing this was the runway."

In the "Recommendation (How could this accident have been prevented)" portion of the NTSB Form 6120.1, the director of operations said that the depression between the runway and the taxiway had been filled with snow by runway maintenance personnel during snow removal operations. He indicated that the area had the illusion of a hard surface, and landing during reduced visibility due to blowing snow required the pilot to take advantage of any and all available resources to ensure a successful outcome. He suggested that pilots could request air traffic control tower (ATC) personnel to activate the runway lighting, and the pilot could also use the instrument landing system (ILS) localizer as a means of aligning with the centerline of the runway.