# NTSB ANC82DA004: Piper PA-32, N3578W, Port Heiden, AK, October 17, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: October 17, 1981
- Place: Port Heiden, AK · PORT HEIDEN, AK
- Location: 56.9326° N, 158.6250° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Port Heiden, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=56.9326&lon=-158.6250&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report October 29, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123492
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC82DA004
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC82DA004

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2825  81/10/17 NR.PORT HEIDEN,AK     PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  1  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 57, 7450
        TIME - 1100                    N3578W              PX-  0  1  2  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 1150 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          KAJULIK BAY,AK              KING SALMON,AK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FLEW INTO BLIND CANYON
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      1800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- ATMTD TO CROSS MTNS THRU LOW PASS,TOOK WRONG BRANCH,FLEW INTO NARROW CANYON,UN CLB OVR RISING TRRN
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3578W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3578W-1983-05-13), registration cancelled 1983-05-13, S/N 32-471, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (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 19811017068329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19811017068329A), Oct 17, 1981: Piper PA32260, Port Heiden, AK, Substantial damage. Flew into pass in marginal weather. Made turn around, flew up wrong canyon. Unable to turn or outclimb terrain.

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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