N20752

On October 15, 1994, at 1140 Alaska daylight time, a wheel/ski equipped Cessna A185F airplane, operated by Cape Smythe Air Service Inc., collided with a snow bank while taxiing for takeoff at the Kotzebue Airport in Kotzebue, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot-in-command and his two revenue passengers were not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight operation was being conducted under the on- demand rules contained in 14 CFR Part 135. A VFR flight plan was on file with the Kotzebue Flight Service Station (FSS) and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the mishap.

During a telephone interview, the pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge that while taxiing for takeoff the right ski drove onto a snow berm causing the airplane to veer to the left and collide with a snow pile. The left wing, left aileron, and left elevator were damaged in the mishap. The pilot reported that the mishap occurred during a flat light condition which made it difficult for him to distinguish the distance between the snow bank and the snow covered terrain in the background.