# NTSB ANC81FA008: Piper PA-32, N2243Q, Cold Bay, AK, December 12, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 12, 1980
- Place: Cold Bay, AK · COLD BAY, AK
- Location: 55.1858° N, 162.7211° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cold Bay, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.1858&lon=-162.7211&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127529
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC81FA008
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC81FA008

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3215  80/12/12 NR.COLD BAY,AK        PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 33, 3297
        TIME - 1951                    N2243Q              PX-  3  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 850 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          KING COVE,AK                COLD BAY,AK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          PARTIAL OBSCURATION                                      UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     SNOW SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          BLOWING SNOW                                              14
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           20                                                       20
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- PLT TMTD THAT HE WAS AT 500FT,SNOWING,UN TO SEE.WND GSTG 34KTS.DARK NGT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2243Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2243Q-1983-01-07), registration cancelled 1983-01-07, S/N 32-7940047, built 1979 (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 19801212072689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801212072689A), Dec 12, 1980: Piper PA32300, Cold Bay, AL, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Lost control in heavy snow squall on night medivac flight. Lacked 6 month instrument check.

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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