# Accident 20040102000469A: Piper PA31350, Koyukuk, AK, January 2, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 2, 2004, 16:30 local time
- Place: Koyukuk, AK
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Scud Running
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: FWRA
- Location: 64.8761° N, 157.7272° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8761&lon=-157.7272&mi=10
- Aircraft: N45008, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N45008-2004-09-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-31-350 (registry code 7103110, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA31350
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 5,300 total, 1,400 in this make and model, 350 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC04LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA018) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040102000469A

## Narrative

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

(-23) WHILE PREPARING TO DEPART FROM THE GALENA, AK AIRPORT THE PILOT WAS ADVISED BY THE COMPANY AGENT IN GALENA THAT THE WEATHER IN KOYUKUK, AK. WAS "FOGGY". THE AIRMAN ELECTED TO ATTEMPT THE FLIGHT IN AN EFFORT TO GO THE EXTRA MILE IN HELPING THE FINANCILLY STRESSED COMPANY RECOVER FROM RECENT FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES. THE COMPANY HAD FAILED TO MAKE PAYROLL FOR THE THREE WEEKS PRECEDING THE ACCIDENT AND THE PILOT WAS AWARE THAT THIS FLIGHT COULD GENERATE AN ADDITIONAL $900.00. UPON ARRIVING IN THE VICINITY OF THE KOYUKUK, AK. AIRPORT THE AIRMAN ENCOUNTERED AND CONTINUED INTO EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITY WHILE OPERATING VERY NEAR THE FROZEN SURFACE OF THE YUKON RIVER IN AN ATTEMPT TO REACH THE KOYUKUK, AK. AIRPORT. HE ENTERED AN AREA OF VISIBILITY OF APPROXIMATELY 600 FEET AND ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE COURSE AND RETURN TO THE POINT OF DEPARTURE. WHEN HE BANKED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LEFT TO INITIATE THE TURN THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE FROZEN RIVER SURFACE. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ FAIRBANKS FSDO ACCIDENT LOG #5.

## 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 ANC04LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA018), Jan 2, 2004: Piper PA-31-350 (N45008), Koyukuk, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's continued flight into adverse weather conditions, and his failure to maintain clearance from terrain, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain. Factors associated with the…

## Other reports on N45008 (1)

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

- [Incident 20001221026539I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001221026539I), Dec 21, 2000: Piper PA31350 (N45008), Galena, AK, Minor damage. (-23) ALO12001B0819 at 3,000' and cruise phase of flight while enroute to Galena, Alaska, the #3 cylinder of the left engine separated from the engine case,…

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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