# Accident 20221016020109A: Piper PA-32-260, Cordova, AK, October 16, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 16, 2022, 14:27 local time
- Place: Cordova, AK
- Airport: Cordova Municipal
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 60.4644° N, 145.8221° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.4644&lon=-145.8221&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3432W, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3432W) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-260 (registry code 7103206, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 15,800 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC23LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA002) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221016020109A

## Narrative

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

ON OCTOBER 16TH, 2022 AT APPROXIMATELY 1422 HRS, A PIPER PA-32, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ A CHEROKEE-6 OPERATED UNDER PART 91 BY THE NAMED PILOT CRASHED AT APPROXIMATELY THE 1700 FT MARK 6 MILES S/SW OF CORDOVA. INITIAL NOTIFICATION THROUGH AN ALNOT INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR AND AN ELT BEGAN TRANSMITTING. AT 1826 HRS, ON THE SAME DAY, A COAST GUARD HELICOPTER SPOTTED THE WRECKAGE OF THE PIPER PA-32. A FORENSIC ID VERIFIED THE IDENTITY OF THE PILOT. DUE TO THE RUGGED LOCATION OF THE ACCIDENT THE FAA AND THE NTSB DID NOT DISPATCH TO THE LOCATION. THE PILOT HAD APPROXIMATELY 15,800 HOURS AS AN ATP AND A SECOND CLASS MEDICAL. THE PILOT WAS ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^A 14 CFR 135 OPERATION. THERE WERE NO OTHER PASSENGERS ONBOARD.

## 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 ANC23LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA002), Oct 16, 2022: Piper PA-32-260 (N3432W), Cordova, AK, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper decision to continue visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.

## Other reports on N3432W (2)

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

- [Accident 20100808043869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100808043869A), Aug 8, 2010: Piper PA-32-260 (N3432W), Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot stated while flying over the knik glacier at 9000FEET MSL clouds were above the aircraft and the terrain was rising faster than the aircraft could…
- [Incident 20030410019279I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030410019279I), Apr 10, 2003: Piper PA32260 (N3432W), Bloomfield, IN, Minor damage. (-23) Lower oil cooler line came off in flight causing loss of engine oil. Pilot declared an emergency and made a successful off airport landing.

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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