# Accident 20180512005289A: Piper PA-28-180, Whittier, AK, May 12, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 12, 2018, 09:30 local time
- Place: Whittier, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 60.7639° N, 148.7158° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7639&lon=-148.7158&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7061W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7061W-2019-01-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-180 (registry code 7102808, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC18FA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18FA036) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180512005289A

## Narrative

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

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON A VFR FLIGHT PLAN FROM MERRILL FIELD, AK. TO VALDEZ , AK. VIA PORTAGE PASS.  AIRCRAFT HIT THE MOUNTAIN NORTH OF PORTAGE PASS AT APPROX. 2000 FOOT LEVEL.  WEATHER REPORTS INDICATE IMC CONDITIONS AT HIS ALTITUDE.

## 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 ANC18FA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18FA036), May 12, 2018: Piper PA-28-180 (N7061W), Whittier, AK, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The student pilot's decision to depart and continue on a solo cross-country flight through mountainous terrain in marginal visual flight rules conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into…

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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