On January 21, 2010, about 2340 Alaska standard time, a twin-engine turboprop Beech 1900C airplane, N112AX, was destroyed when it crashed in the ocean following a loss of control shortly after takeoff from Runway 31 at the Sand Point Airport, Sand Point, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as Flight 22, by Alaska Central Express, Inc., Anchorage, Alaska, as an instrument flight rules (IFR) cargo flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135. The two flightcrew members, the airline transport certificated captain, and the commercial certificated first officer, sustained fatal injuries. Dark night, visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed, and an instrument flight plan had been filed for the flight to Anchorage.
A postaccident review of the radio communication recordings maintained by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), revealed that the captain contacted the Anchorage air route traffic control center (ARTCC), about 2336, to request an instrument flight rules (IFR) clearance for the flight from Sand Point to Anchorage. His request was granted, and he was instructed to contact ARTCC after departure from Sand Point. According to ARTCC specialist on duty, no further radio communications were received from the accident airplane.
During on-scene interviews by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on January 27, two witnesses that were standing outside a home situated along the shoreline, about 1 mile north of the Sand Point Airport, reported hearing what they believed was the accident airplane as it departed. Both witnesses reported that as the airplane’s takeoff progressed, the engine noise suddenly changed, followed by a very loud sound of impact, and then silence. One of the witnesses said that just before hearing the impact, he momentarily saw the lights of the airplane descend into the ocean. The witnesses called 911 to report the accident. Both witnesses said that winds at the time were very strong out of the north, estimated between 50 and 60 knots.
The U.S. Coast Guard's Air Station Kodiak was notified that an airplane had crashed in the water just north of the departure end of Runway 31. The Coast Guard initiated an emergency response and immediately dispatched an HH-60J rescue helicopter from Air Station Kodiak. Volunteer search personnel located floating debris, including the first officer’s flight bag in the area north of the airport, but no survivors.
On January 24, recovery personnel located the submerged airplane wreckage in about 45 feet of water, about 1 mile north of the departure end of Runway 31. The bodies of both pilots were recovered.
On January 24 and 25, recovery crews and divers recovered the fragmented wreckage from the ocean floor, and transported it to Sand Point.
On January 26 and 27, a wreckage examination and layout was done under the direction of the NTSB IIC. Two FAA air safety inspectors from the Anchorage Flight Standards District Office, along with air safety investigators from Hawker Beechcraft and Pratt and Whitney, and representatives from Alaska Central Express, assisted the NTSB IIC.
The airplane was equipped with two Pratt and Whitney PT6A-65B turboshaft engines, each outfitted with a Hartzell HC-B4MP-3A propeller, with four-bladed composite propeller blades. The accident airplane’s left propeller was found in the “feathered” position at recovery. A postaccident examination of both engines and propellers are pending.
The closest official weather observation station is located at the Sand Point Airport. At 2356, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting, in part: Wind, 330 degrees (true) at 19 knots with gusts to 26 knots; visibility, 8 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 2,000 feet broken, 2,800 feet overcast; temperature, 23 degrees F; dew point, 18 degrees F; altimeter, 29.91 inHg.
Residents of Sand Point reported that winds are consistently stronger to the north of the Sand Point Airport.