NTSB SEA91LA040 — 1990-12-31 · KALISPELL, Montana, United States

N385PH has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH EC 135 P2+, built 2008), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

N385PH Swearingen SA-227 None

Probable cause & findings

THE FLIGHT CREW'S INABLITY TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER LANDING IN SNOW-DEPTH CONDITIONS THAT HAD BEEN ERRONEOUSLY REPORTED AS BEING WITHIN OPERATING LIMITATIONS.

Factual narrative

THE CREW OF THE SA-227 COMMUTER AIRLINER LOST DIRCTIONAL CONTROL AFTER LANDING IN SNOW THAT WAS REPORTEDLY BETWEEN FIVE AND TEN INCHES DEEP. THE CREW HAD REQUESTED A SNOW-DEPTH REPORT, WHICH WAS RELAYED TO THEM BY AN AIRPORT SNOWPLOW OPERATOR, THROUGH THE AIRLINE'S OPERATIONS PERSONNEL. THE SNOW DEPTH HAD BEEN REPORTED AS ONE INCH AT THAT TIME. THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1990_SEA91LA040.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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