19811017068329A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-32-260 · Port Heiden, AK · October 17, 1981

Date
October 17, 1981 · 11:00 local
Place
Port Heiden, AK
Phase of flight
Normal Cruise
Operating rules
Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N3578W
NTSB investigation
NTSBANC82DA004
Reported as
Piper PA32260
Reported engine
Lycoming O540*
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
7,450 total1,150 in this make and model152 in the last 90 days

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Flew into pass in marginal weather. Made turn around, flew up wrong canyon. Unable to turn or outclimb terrain.

As the FAA filed it

FLEW INTO PASS IN MARGINAL WEATHER. MADE TURN AROUND, FLEW UP WRONG CANYON. UNABLE TO TURN OR OUTCLIMB TERRAIN.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.