# Accident 20190711011249A: Piper PA-24-180, Ketchikan, AK, July 11, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 11, 2019, 14:18 local time
- Place: Ketchikan, AK
- Airport: Ketchikan International Airpor
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 55.3011° N, 131.6520° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.3011&lon=-131.6520&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5840P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5840P-2021-10-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-24-180 (registry code 7102403, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-180) (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-24-180
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC19FA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC19FA033) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190711011249A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT DEPARTED FRIDAY HARBOR AIRPORT (KFHR) ENROUTE TO KETCHIKAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (KTN) ON A PERSONAL VFR FLIGHT.  LAST CONTACT BETWEEN THE PILOT AND KTN FSS AT 2:16P LOCAL TIME, REPORTED 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT AND COULD NOT GET IN ON THE RIGHT DOWNWIND TO RUNWAY 11; WOULD HOLD FOR INBOUND TRAFFIC AND COME IN ON THE LEFT DOWNWIND.  THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED TREES AT 350 FEET ALTITUDE WHILE IN A LEFT CLIMBING TURN, ON THE NORTH SIDE OF JUDY HILL, LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT RUNWAY 29.  THE WEATHER AT THE KETCHIKAN AIRPORT AT THAT TIME WAS REPORTING WINDS FROM 130 AT 10 KNOTS, VISIBILITY AT 10 STATUTE MILES; A FEW CLOUDS AT 700 FEET, OVERCAST AT 1900 FEET; HOWEVER, FAA WEATHER CAMERA IMAGES TAKEN FROM THE AIRPORT AT 1432 AND 1442 AKDT, SHOW JUDY HILL OBSCURED BY DENSE FOG/CLOUDS AT THE TIME.  THE PILOT DID NOT HOLD A VALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.  NO INDICATIONS WERE FOUND THAT ANY MECHANICAL ANOMALIES EXISTED WITH THE AIRCRAFT, AND NO INDICATIONS WERE FOUND THAT THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A MEDICAL ISSUE.

## 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 ANC19FA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC19FA033), Jul 11, 2019: Piper PA 24-180 (N5840P), Ketchikan, AK, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to continue visual flight rules into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of control.

## Other reports on N5840P (1)

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

- [Incident 19811123083759I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19811123083759I), Nov 23, 1981: Piper PA24 (N5840P), Lakeway, TX, Minor damage. Forgot to lower landing gear for landing. Landed wheels up.

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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