PIREP Vic: Food-9 McGrath - Takotna

Good evening boss,

I just completed Food-9.

The short trip over from PAMC to Takotna was easy at 2500 feet.
Having the Pilatus made the landing at that short runway no problem.

Flight : Food - 9
Date : 2/17/2007
Name : Vic Alesi
TCA# 2613
# Aboard: 1, 12 bags of food
VFR/IFR : VFR
Aircraft: PC-6
Depart. : PAMC McGrath
Destin. : TCT Takotna
Dep.time: 10:25 local.
Enroute : 0:20
Fuel : 6 gal
Route : VFR Direct
Speed : 100 knots
Altitude: 3500

However, while offloading at TCT the weather deteriorated drastically. The fog rolled in and in minutes the field was IMC. I checked the weather back at McGrath and they were still reporting 10 miles so I filed IFR back at 3000 feet. The trip back was completely in the soup. I was cleared for the visual to 34 and to my surprise suddenly the weather cleared and the runway was in sight; then, just
as suddenly, it started to drop again. I slowed to about 65 knots, dropped down to treetop level, and kept visual contact with the ground. The runway came back into view so I didn't have to declare a missed approach.

Flight : Food-9 (return)
Date : 2/17/2007
Name : Vic Alesi
TCA# 2613
# Aboard: 1
VFR/IFR : IFR
Aircraft: PC-6
Depart. : TCT Takotna
Destin. : PAMC McGrath
Dep.time: 11:00 local.
Enroute : :29
Fuel : 10 gal

It's funny how the shortest flights can sometimes turn into the most eventful.

While I have been typing this the weather has cleared up again a bit, and Kaltag is reporting clear, so I'll think I'll launch for the transfer flight.

Best,

Vic