20030416004719A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-32-300 · Kotzebue, AK · April 16, 2003

Date: April 16, 2003 · 10:05 local
Place: Kotzebue, AK
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: S4EA
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N2863T
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC03LA044
Reported as: Piper PA32300
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,500 total500 in this make and model300 in the last 90 days

N2863TRegistration cancelled Mar 2, 2004 · Piper PA-32-300S/N 32-7240095 · Built 1972 Airframe modelPiper PA-32-300 Engine modelLycoming TI0-540 seriesTurbo-prop

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.

(-23) Airman departed in flat light conditions, made an initial climb to 500 feet and subsequently failed to detect that the aircraft had begun to descend. He stated that he did not cross reference his altimeter during the cruise portion because he was looking outside. After approximately 12 NM the aircraft contacted the surface of the frozen hotham inlet resulting in the accident. privacy data omitted

As the FAA filed it

(-23) AIRMAN DEPARTED IN FLAT LIGHT CONDITIONS, MADE AN INITIAL CLIMB TO 500 FEET AND SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED TO DETECT THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEGUN TO DESCEND. HE STATED THAT HE DID NOT CROSS REFERENCE HIS ALTIMETER DURING THE CRUISE PORTION BECAUSE HE WAS LOOKING OUTSIDE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 12 NM THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE SURFACE OF THE FROZEN HOTHAM INLET RESULTING IN THE ACCIDENT. ^PRIVACY DATA OMI^

NTSB investigation

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

NTSB ANC03LA044Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportKotzebue, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain during cruise flight. Factors associated with the accident were flat light conditions, and snow-covered terrain.Apr 16, 2003 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N2863T · 1

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

Incident 19880718062469IFinal Approach · Chandler, AZLanded 250 ft short of runway due to fuel exhaustion. No injury and minor damage.Jul 18, 1988 · Minor damage