# NTSB ANC75AA043: Piper PA-23, N5308Y, Whittier, AK, December 6, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 6, 1974
- Place: Whittier, AK · WHITTIER, AK
- Location: 60.7771° N, 148.6659° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Whittier, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7771&lon=-148.6659&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 16, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142961
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC75AA043
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC75AA043

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3769   74/12/6 NR. WHITTIER,ALAS     PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1035                    N5308Y              PX-  0  0  0  FERRY                     UNK/NR, 4765 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            80 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ANCHORAGE,ALAS              VALDEZ,ALAS
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - WHITEOUT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - SNOW
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           TERRAIN - SNOW-COVERED
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- FLEW INTO SNOWFLD NR TOP OF RIDGE AFTER TURNING ARND DUE OBSCURED MTN PASS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5308Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5308Y-2012-08-14), registration cancelled 2012-08-14, S/N 27-2381, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19741206043069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19741206043069A), Dec 6, 1974: Piper PA23250, Whittier, AK, Substantial damage. Flew into snowfld nr top of ridge after turning arnd due obscured mtn pass.

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.

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