# NTSB ANC08LA046: Piper PA-32, N8327S, Koliganek, AK, April 1, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 1, 2008, 15:40 local (23:40 UTC) - Place: Koliganek, AK - Coordinates: 59.616664, -157.511672 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.6167&lon=-157.5117&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 11, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 67751 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08LA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67751/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=67751 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA046 ## Probable cause The pilot's VFR flight into adverse weather conditions that resulted in a collision with snow-covered terrain during a turn to reverse direction. Factors contributing to the accident were low ceilings, flat lighting conditions, and the snow-covered terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Light condition: flat light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036025/cases.md?model=7103207), [All aircraft, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036025/cases.md) - [Terrain: snowy/icy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md?model=7103207), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=7103207), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: low visibility](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015/cases.md?model=7103207), [All aircraft, 175 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-301, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md?model=7103207), [All aircraft, 392 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=7103207), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-301, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=7103207), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was in cruise flight about 700 feet agl over near featureless snow-covered terrain when he encounter lowering ceilings. He described the weather conditions as rapidly deteriorating. He began a turn to reverse direction, and the airplane collided with terrain. His destination, about 10 miles away, was reporting a visibility of 2 miles in mist, and a ceiling of 400 feet broken. The ceiling was variable between 200 to 900 feet. A low ceiling and snow-covered terrain likely produced flat lighting conditions, making visual reference to terrain, and determining height above the ground difficult. ## Factual narrative On April 1, 2008, about 1540 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-32 airplane, N8327S, sustained substantial damage when it collided with snow-covered terrain while in cruise flight, about 10 miles south-southwest of Koliganek, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country air taxi flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated as Flight 245, by Peninsula Airways Inc., Anchorage, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Dillingham Airport, Dillingham, Alaska, about 1510, and was en route to Koliganek, with cargo and mail. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on April 2, the director of operations for the operator reported that the pilot was on the first segment of his flight from Dillingham, then to Koliganek, then to New Stuyahok, Alaska, and return to Dillingham. The pilot did not arrive in Koliganek, and an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal was received from the airplane. The pilot was located by search and rescue personnel about 2040, and transported to Koliganek by snow machine. In a written statement from the pilot on April 3, he reported that he was in cruise flight about 700 feet agl, and the visibility was good until about 20 miles from Koliganek. The weather began to deteriorate rapidly, and the pilot decided to turn around. The airplane then collided with terrain. Personnel from the operator reported that when they arrived at the accident scene to begin recovery operations, they found that the airplane collided with almost featureless snow-covered terrain on a northwest heading. They reported the right main landing gear separated first, followed by the left main gear, followed by an impact that separated the right wing. At 1540, a special observation at Koliganek was reporting in part: Wind, 130 degrees (true) at 15 knots; visibility, 2 statute miles in mist; clouds, 400 feet broken, 1,300 feet broken, 8,500 feet overcast; temperature, 34 degrees F; dew point, 32 degrees F; altimeter, 29.67 inHg. Remarks; ceiling variable from 200 to 900 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8327S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8327S-2008-07-02), registration cancelled 2008-07-02, S/N 32-8106039, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-301](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-301) (registry code 7103207) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-8106039 - Airframe hours: 15026 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540K 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Peninsula Airways Inc. - Registered owner: Peninsula Airways Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, March 8, 2008, 84 hours before - Departed: PADL, Dillingham, AK - Destination: PAJZ, Koliganek, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 24, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 3,669 total, 33 in this make and model, 2,440 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 15 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 400 ft broken - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.67 inHg - Observed at: PAJZ, 10 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20080401831969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080401831969A), Apr 1, 2008: Piper PA32301, Koliganek, AK, Destroyed. (-23) The pilot stated the weather was going down. He decided to turn around. He thought about calling the village agent to tell him he was returning, but… ## Other investigations on N8327S (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 ANC93LA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA029), Jan 29, 1993: Piper PA-32 (N8327S), Port Heiden, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER INTAKE VALVE STEM. A FACTOR IN THE DEGREE OF DAMAGE THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED IN THE MISHAP WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE OFF AIRPORT EMERGENCY LANDING ON SHOW COVERED… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 20, 2008, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=67751. 774 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 774 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40303675&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.