# Accident 20230702009869A: Piper PA-32-300, Old Harbor, AK, July 2, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 2, 2023, 15:10 local time
- Place: Old Harbor, AK
- Airport: Old Harbor
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: 3VGA
- Location: 57.2410° N, 153.1798° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.2410&lon=-153.1798&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1132Q, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1132Q) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-300 (registry code 7103212, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 3
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,830 total, 62 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC23FA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23FA045) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230702009869A

## Narrative

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

ON 2 JULY, 2023 AT APPROXIMATELY 1510 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ A PIPER PA 32-300, S/N 32-7740046 DEPARTED FROM OLD HARBOR, KODIAK ALASKA ENROUTE TO KODIAK MUNICIPLE WITH FOUR PASSENGERS AND THIER CARGO ONBOARD. PIC STATED THAT WHEN FLYING UP THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VALLEY AFTER TAKEOFF, HE DETERMINED THAT HE NEEDED TO MAKE A 180 DEGREE TURN TO GAIN ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE VALLEY SUMMIT. PIC ELECTED TO MAKE THE TURN TO THE LEFT AND MANEUVERED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VALLEY, AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT GAIN ADDITIONAL ALTITUDE TO MAKE THE LEFT TURN, THE PIC ALSO BELIEVED THE AIRCARFT TO BE IN A DOWNDRAFT CONDITION. PIC DID NOT THINK THE AICRAFT HAD SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CONTINUE THE LEFT TURN AND ELECTED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING, THE AIRCRAT IMPACTED TERRAIN ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VALLEY TWICE BEFORE COMING TO REST AT AN ELEVATION OF APPROXIMATLEY 750FT CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. THE ENGINE AND BOTH WINGS SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE, IN ADDITION TO THE FUSALAGE BEING BENT AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE TO THE RIGHT JUST BEHIND THE LAST SEAT POSITION AT THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, TWO PAX SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES, AND TWO PAX SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. THE COAST GUARD AND TWO OTHER 135 OPERATORS FROM KODIAK ASSISTED IN THE SEARCH AND RESCUE AND SUSEQUENT RECOVERY EFFORTS.

## 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 ANC23FA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23FA045), Jul 2, 2023: Piper PA-32-300 (N1132Q), Old Harbor, AK, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s delayed decision to turn away from the terrain.

## Other reports on N1132Q (1)

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

- [Incident 20181126017679I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181126017679I), Nov 26, 2018: Piper PA-32-300 (N1132Q), Palmer, AK, Minor damage. Pilot of N1132Q made a normal approach and landing at a grass strip approximately 6 miles east of Palmer airport, Palmer, Alaska. Upon landing, the pilot…

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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