Accident Overview
On the night of the accident, a pilot operating an air taxi cargo flight encountered marginal VFR conditions. The aircraft struck rising terrain and was discovered the following day at approximately 1000 AST, about 15 miles off its intended route. The pilot was found unconscious, suffering from hypothermia and other injuries, and was transported to a hospital where he died later that day. The aircraft had struck the south side of Bismark mountain at an elevation of approximately 2,100 feet MSL while in level flight.
Weather and Visibility
Another pilot flying in the vicinity approximately 2.5 hours after the accident reported classic white-out conditions with moderate snowfall and ice crystals, reducing forward visibility to less than half a mile.
Pilot Background and Qualifications
The pilot, flying aircraft N9979M, had been recently hired by Bering Air. He claimed approximately 1,536 hours of flight time at employment, but only 446 hours were verified through his logbook and other sources. The minimum flight time required to act as pilot in command in the air taxi operation was 500 hours. He had only about 23 hours of known flight time in the general area.
Investigation Findings
The investigation identified several factors: inadequate preflight planning, failure to follow procedures, lack of total experience, and an inadequate substantiation process by the company management. The light condition was dark night, with weather obscuration including ice fog, snow, and whiteout. The pilot continued VFR flight into IMC, became lost/disoriented, and failed to maintain proper altitude, resulting in a collision with high terrain. The pilot also lacked familiarity with the geographic area and total experience in this type of operation.
Probable Cause
The probable cause was the pilot's continued VFR flight into IMC, inadvertent disorientation, and failure to maintain proper altitude.