# Accident 19980801019079A: Piper PA28140, Cantwell, AK, August 1, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 1, 1998, 13:40 local time
- Place: Cantwell, AK
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Scud Running
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 63.0100° N, 149.3993° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.0100&lon=-149.3993&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2350T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2350T-2005-02-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-140 (registry code 7102802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28140
- Reported engine: LYC O320A1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 900 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA105) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980801019079A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

FLEW INTO SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN ENROUTE. CAVU EXISTED. POSSIBILITY FLYING TOO LOW AND GOT CAUGHT IN A DOWNDRAFT. (FROM .4) THE NONINSTRUMENT RATED PILOT TRANSMITTED THAT HE WAS LOST IN THE CLOUDS AND REQUESTING HELP.  HE BEGAN TO TRANSMIT HIS POSITION AND HEADING, AND THEN NO FURTHER TRANSMISSIONS WERE OVERHEARD.  THE AIRPLANE WAS LOCATED AT 7,200 FEET MSL IN STEEP, MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN EXTENDING UPWARDS TO 10,000 FEET MSL.  PILOTS FLYING IN THE AREA REPORTED VFR WEATHER WITH CLOUD BASES AT 5,000 FEET MSL, AND CLOUD TOPS AT 9,000 FEET MSL.  THESE PILOTS STATED THAT MOST OF THE MOUNTAIN WAS IN THE CLEAR, AND THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO PICK THEIR WAY AROUND THE CLOUDS.  THE AIRPLANE AND PILOT COULD NOT BE RECOVERED DUE TO HAZARDOUS TERRAIN AND INCLEMENT WEATHER.                                                              (-23) ON AUGUST 1, 1998, A PIPER PA-28, AIRCRAFT N2350T DEPARTED MERRILL FIELD, ANCHORAGE, AK, ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT TO FAIRBANKS, AK. AT APPROXIMATELY 1340 ADT, THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT IMPACTED RISING TERRAIN AT THE 7,200 FT. LEVEL, 37 MILES SW OF CANTWELL, AK. THE SOLO PRIVATE PILOT RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC98LA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA105), Aug 1, 1998: Piper PA-28-140 (N2350T), Cantwell, AK, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's intentional continued VFR flight into IMC. Factors were the scattered to broken clouds, and the mountainous terrain.

## Other reports on N2350T (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19731231039349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731231039349A), Dec 31, 1973: Piper PA28140 (N2350T), Richland, WA, Substantial damage. Acft inop 14 days and fuel sumps not drained prior to flt.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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