# Accident 20200206000309A: Piper PA-32R-300, Tuntutuliak, AK, February 6, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 6, 2020, 11:10 local time
- Place: Tuntutuliak, AK
- Airport: Tuntutuliak
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: T72A
- Location: 60.3517° N, 163.0231° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.3517&lon=-163.0231&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7632C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7632C-2022-11-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-300 (registry code 7103213, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5D (registry code 41664, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-k1a5d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-K1A5D
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 5
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 640 total, 38 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC20FA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20FA017) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200206000309A

## Narrative

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

ON FEBRUARY 6, 2020 I WAS ASSIGNED AS THE INVESTIGATOR IN CHARGE (IIC) IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NTSB TO INVESTIGATE THE PAKLOOK AIR SERVICE (T72A) ACCIDENT THAT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 135 COMMUTER OPERATIONS. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14 MILES SOUTHWEST OF TUNTUTULIAK, AIRPORT, ALASKA (A61). THE ACCIDENT TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY 1110 LOCAL TIME AND THE COORDINATES WERE 60?35?.172N AND 163?02?.30W. PAKLOOK AIR, INC. OPERATES UNDER A DBA YUTE COMMUTER SERVICE. THE PILOT AND ALL FOUR PASSENGERS ON BOARD WERE FOUND FATALLY INJURED. PAKLOOK ONLY OPERATES SINGLE ENGINE AIRPLANES IN VFR CONDITIONS UNDER 14 CFR PART 135.

THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE BETHEL AIRPORT (BET) AT 1038 ADT WITH FOUR PASSENGERS AND ONE PILOT ENROUTE TO THE KIPNUK AIRPORT (IIK). THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED ON A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE. BET WEATHER REPORTED AT THE TIME OF TAKEOFF WAS CEILING 600 FT. OVERCAST AND 2 STATUTE MILES (SM) VISIBILITY. AT 1042, N7632C REPORTED CLEAR OF CLASS D AIRSPACE WITH NO FURTHER CONTACT WITH ATC. AT 1215 ADT, PAKLOOK AIR CONTACTED THE WESTERN REGIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER (W-ROC) WITH AN OVERDUE AIRCRAFT REPORT. AN ALNOT REPORT WAS ISSUED AT 1251 ADT. ANOTHER AIRCRAFT REPORTED THE WRECKAGE AT 1451 ADT.

THE DESTINATION WEATHER WAS REPORTING BETWEEN 600 TO 800 OVERCAST WITH 6 TO 8 MILES VISIBILITY, FOG AND SNOW IN THE AREA. THIS AREA IS KNOWN FOR FLAT LIGHT AND WHITE OUT CONDITIONS.

THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN A DESCENDING RIGHT HAND TURN. THE RIGHT WING DEPARTED THE FUSELAGE BREAKING INTO THREE PIECES. THE FRONT OF THE AIRPLANE HIT JUST UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE CREATING AN ACCORDING AFFECT TO THE REST OF THE AIRPLANE. THE LEFT WING ALSO DEPARTED FROM THE FUSELAGE AS THE AIRCRAFT SLID APPROXIMATELY ONE HUNDRED YARDS BEFORE STOPPING.

## 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 ANC20FA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20FA017), Feb 6, 2020: Piper PA32R (N7632C), Tuntutuliak, AK, substantial damage, 5 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's continued visual flight rules flight into reduced visibility, including likely flat light and/or white out conditions, which resulted in a controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to…

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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