What happened
An air taxi cargo flight operated by Bering Air was conducting operations at night under marginal visual flight rules conditions when the aircraft encountered rising terrain. The pilot of N9979M lost situational awareness and collided with the south side of Mount Bismarck at an approximate altitude of 2,100 feet mean sea level while attempting to maintain level flight.
The wreckage was located the following day at approximately 10:00 Alaska Standard Time, situated roughly 15 miles off the intended route. The pilot was found unconscious and suffering from hypothermia and other injuries. He was transported to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries later that day, resulting in 1 fatal outcome.
The investigation
A subsequent investigation into the accident revealed critical environmental factors contributing to the crash. Another pilot flying in the vicinity approximately two and a half hours after the incident reported classic whiteout conditions. These conditions were characterized by moderate snowfall and ice crystals that reduced forward visibility to less than one-half mile.
The investigation also examined the qualifications of the pilot involved. At the time of his employment with Bering Air, he indicated having approximately 1,536 hours of flight time. However, verification through his logbook and other sources confirmed only 446 hours of verified flight time. The minimum flight time required to act as pilot in command for this air taxi operation was 500 hours.
Findings
The primary contributing factors included the pilot's lack of sufficient verified experience for the specific operational requirements and the severe weather conditions that obscured terrain features. The whiteout conditions effectively eliminated visual references, leading to spatial disorientation or loss of control relative to the ground. The discrepancy between claimed and verified flight time suggests a potential gap in proficiency for night operations in marginal weather.
Safety message
This incident highlights the critical importance of verifying pilot experience records against actual operational requirements, particularly for air taxi operations in challenging environments. It also underscores the dangers of whiteout conditions at night, where visual cues are entirely absent, requiring strict adherence to instrument flight rules and adequate training for terrain avoidance.