20061214027569A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-32-301 · Port Heiden, AK · December 14, 2006

Date: December 14, 2006 · 18:30 local
Place: Port Heiden, AK
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: PNSA
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N8361Q
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC07FA007
Reported as: Piper PA32301
Reported engine: Lycoming IO540K1G5
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,900 total55 in this make and model230 in the last 90 days

N8361QRegistration cancelled Jun 15, 2009 · Piper PA-32-301S/N 32-8106055 Airframe modelPiper PA-32-301

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) Penair flight 842 left Port Heiden approx 18:05 enroute to king salmon, Alaska (akn). Flight was originally scheduled to depart around 14:30. Reports indicate takeoff was after dark. Pilot called company to report departure shortly after take off. Wreckage was located 16.1 miles from Port Heiden below airway to akn. Wreckage indicates high speed impact with ground. Wreckage path greater than 600 feet beyond large impact crater. Inspection of wreckage indicates left wing and left side of fuselage struck ground first at high rate of descent. Direction of debris field was approx 120 degrees from planned course line (240 degrees counter clockwise from course line if aircraft was in a left turn upon impact).

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PENAIR FLIGHT 842 LEFT PORT HEIDEN APPROX 18:05 ENROUTE TO KING SALMON, ALASKA (AKN). FLIGHT WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO DEPART AROUND 14:30. REPORTS INDICATE TAKEOFF WAS AFTER DARK. PILOT CALLED COMPANY TO REPORT DEPARTURE SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF. WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED 16.1 MILES FROM PORT HEIDEN BELOW AIRWAY TO AKN. WRECKAGE INDICATES HIGH SPEED IMPACT WITH GROUND. WRECKAGE PATH GREATER THAN 600 FEET BEYOND LARGE IMPACT CRATER. INSPECTION OF WRECKAGE INDICATES LEFT WING AND LEFT SIDE OF FUSELAGE STRUCK GROUND FIRST AT HIGH RATE OF DESCENT. DIRECTION OF DEBRIS FIELD WAS APPROX 120 DEGREES FROM PLANNED COURSE LINE (240 DEGREES COUNTER CLOCKWISE FROM COURSE LINE IF AIRCRAFT WAS IN A LEFT TURN UPON IMPACT).

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 ANC07FA007Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPort Heiden, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during cruise flight, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent, and an in-flight collision with snow-covered terrain. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's spatial disorientation, and dark night…Dec 14, 2006 · Destroyed

Other reports on N8361Q · 2

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

Incident 20000520017659IGround Taxi, Other Airplane · South Naknek, AK(-23)Pilot taxied out to runway 12/30 with intent to back taxi for take-offon runway 30. Forward visibility was reduced due to moisture on inside of window, and nose high altitude of aircraft. Aircraft hit taxi light with prop then pilot turned aircraft…May 20, 2000 · Minor damage Incident 19960413045809IGround Taxi, Other Airplane · Dillingham, AKNarrative: during taxi from ramp area this a/c hit another parked aircraft wingtip to wingtip. Minor damage. Because passengers were on board the FAA considers this to be an incident. NTSB does not consider this an incident for their purposes. [privacy data…Apr 13, 1996 · Minor damage