Incident Overview
An aircraft crashed on the frozen level tundra at night while conducting a Part 135 air taxi flight from Bethel to Quinhagak, Alaska. The accident occurred during a scheduled passenger-carrying operation under commercial air taxi regulations.
Investigation Findings
Investigation revealed that the commercially rated air taxi pilot did not have a required Part 135 air taxi check ride or competency check. The pilot's certificate prohibited him from carrying passengers for hire at night or on cross-country flights exceeding 50 miles. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were below visual flight rules (VFR) minima. The pilot did not receive a weather briefing prior to the flight.
Pilot Qualifications
The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate but was not authorized under its limitations for the specific operation being conducted. The certificate restrictions barred night passenger-carrying flights and flights beyond 50 nautical miles from the point of origin. The investigation determined that the pilot had not completed the mandatory check ride required for Part 135 air taxi operations, nor had he undergone a competency check.
Weather Conditions
The weather at the time of the accident was below VFR conditions, meaning visibility and/or cloud clearance were insufficient for flight under visual flight rules. The pilot did not obtain a weather briefing from any official source before departure, contrary to standard safety practices and regulatory expectations.