# NTSB ANC79FA022: Piper PA-32, N4284R, Old Harbor, AK, November 21, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 21, 1978
- Place: Old Harbor, AK · OLD HARBOR, AK
- Location: 57.2186° N, 153.3278° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Old Harbor, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.2186&lon=-153.3278&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 28, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138058
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC79FA022
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC79FA022

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4309  78/11/21 NR.OLD HARBOR,AK      PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1530                    N4284R              PX-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO            AGE 47, 4838 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            338 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          OLD HARBOR,AK               KODIAK,AK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - WIND SHEAR
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          4 MILES OR LESS                                          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          OTHER
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- HIT MTN 1720FT MSL 7MI FRM DEP PT.COLD FRONT PASSAGE.COMPANY FLT PLAN.RECOVERY DATE 10/10/80.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4284R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4284R-1981-05-06), registration cancelled 1981-05-06, S/N 32-40659, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19781121044529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781121044529A), Nov 21, 1978: Piper PA32300, Old Harbor, AK, Destroyed. Indicates airplane operated into adverse wind and weather in mountina pass. Struck rock wall in level flight.

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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