Background
The pilot, who had returned to work on April 1 following a 30-day suspension for a previous takeoff accident, was assigned exclusively to Cessna 207 aircraft designated as "VFR only." The pilot did not discuss the earlier accident with the operator's management.
Weather Information
Prior to takeoff, Flight Service Station (FSS) provided pilot reports (PIREPs) indicating fog and low visibility along the planned route to the east, which had forced other aircraft to return to Nome. As the flight taxied for takeoff, the pilot was advised, "VFR is not recommended to the east."
Accident Sequence
The airplane impacted flat, snow-covered terrain in a steep left-wing-down attitude approximately 4 miles east of the departure end of the runway. The area was a treeless, snow-covered flat coastal plain bordered by a frozen sea with white ice.
Probable Cause
The pilot initiated VFR flight into instrument meteorological and whiteout conditions. Factors which contributed to the accident were: inadequate supervision of the pilot by the company, inadequate oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot's self-induced pressure to conduct the flight, and the existing weather conditions and snow-covered terrain.