# NTSB ANC10LA071: Piper PA-32-260, N3432W, Chickaloon, AK, August 8, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 8, 2010, 13:05 local (21:05 UTC) - Place: Chickaloon, AK - Coordinates: 61.373332, -147.836395 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.3733&lon=-147.8364&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 7, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 77058 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC10LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77058/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77058 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10LA071 ## Probable cause The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, resulting in an in-flight collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Convective weather](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033000/cases.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033000/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-32-260, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 392 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The non-instrument-rated pilot stated that he departed the airport in visual flight rules conditions, with various cloud layers throughout the area. As he climbed toward the snowfields at the top of a glacier, the clouds rapidly filled in underneath and built up around the airplane as he attempted to climb above them. He could not maintain sight of the ground and entered instrument meteorological conditions. The airplane had slowed to about 70 knots and he was making a wings-level rudder turn when the airplane impacted the glacier. The pilot said there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane. He reported the wings and fuselage were damaged during the impact. ## Factual narrative On August 8, 2010, about 1305 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-32-260 airplane, N3432W, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain about 35 miles southeast of Chickaloon, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal local flight under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger received minor injuries; the three remaining passengers were not injured. The flight departed the Palmer Airport, Palmer Alaska, about 1230. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 28, the pilot said he departed the airport in VFR conditions with various cloud layers throughout the area. He said he was taking visiting family friends for a flight around a local glacier he was very familiar with. The pilot reported that as he climbed toward the snowfields at the top of the glacier, the clouds rapidly filled in underneath, forming an undercast, and built up around the airplane as he attempted to climb above them. He said as the clouds surrounded the airplane, he lost sight of the ground, and found himself in instrument meteorological conditions. The pilot said the airplane had slowed to about 70 knots airspeed, and he was making a wings level pedal turn when the airplane impacted the glacier. The airplane slid 60-70 yards before stopping. The pilot said there were no mechanical problem with the airplane prior to the accident. He reported the wings and fuselage were damaged during the impact. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3432W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3432W), registered now, S/N 32-329, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-329 - Airframe hours: 3614 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Donald Erbey - Registered owner: Erbey Roland - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 20, 2010 - Departed: PAAQ, Palmer, AK - Destination: PAAQ, Palmer, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 11, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 793 total, 300 in this make and model, 765 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,800 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: PAAQ, 40 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 20100808043869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100808043869A), Aug 8, 2010: Piper PA-32-260, 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… ## Other investigations on N3432W (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. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 5, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77058. 487 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 487 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338853&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.