# Accident 20030416004719A: Piper PA32300, Kotzebue, AK, April 16, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 16, 2003, 10:05 local time
- Place: Kotzebue, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: S4EA
- Location: 66.8667° N, 162.1333° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.8667&lon=-162.1333&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2863T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2863T-2004-03-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-300 (registry code 7103212, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32300
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,500 total, 500 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC03LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA044) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030416004719A

## Narrative

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

(-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^

## 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 ANC03LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA044), Apr 16, 2003: Piper PA-32-300 (N2863T), Kotzebue, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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…

## Other reports on N2863T (1)

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

- [Incident 19880718062469I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880718062469I), Jul 18, 1988: Piper PA32300 (N2863T), Chandler, AZ, Minor damage. Landed 250 ft short of runway due to fuel exhaustion. No injury and minor damage.

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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