# NTSB ANC82DA034: Piper PA-32, Montague Island, AK, April 11, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Date: April 11, 1982, 10:30 UTC, 06:30 local
- Place: Montague Island, AK
- Coordinates: 60.049121, -149.330184 (estimated)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director, April 11, 1983
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71753
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC82DA034
- NTSB report (PDF): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71753/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC82DA034

## Analysis

DURING A TAKEOFF FROM MONTAGUE ISLAND, ALASKA, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH SNOW AND WILLOWS BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF A SMALL STRIP AT MCCLEOD HARBOR. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT JUST AS HE STARTED TO ROTATE THE AIRCRAFT FOR TAKEOFF, THE RIGHT GEAR ENCOUNTERED A SOFT SPOT. AT THAT POINT, HE FELT IT WAS TOO LATE TO ABORT AS THE AIRCRAFT WOULD RUN INTO A DRY RIVER BED. THE PLANE MUSHED INTO THE SNOW AND WILLOWS BEYOND THE RIVER BED.

## Sequence of events

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff
  - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - lift-off - premature, pilot in command
  - stall/mush - performed, pilot in command

## Aircraft

- Registration: N28582 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 327940120
- Airframe hours: 800
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G 300 horsepower
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Unknown, Part 135
- Operator: HARBOR AIR SERVICE
- Departed: SWD, SEWARD, AK
- Airport: runway 0
- FAA reports: 19820411009169A (https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820411009169A) (OpenAirDocs)

## Flight crew

- Pilot; age 52; commercial; medical class 2; hours: 2 24 hours, 2 24 hours in this make and model, 30 90 days, 18 90 days in this make and model, 7,000 pic, 500 pic in this make and model, 7,060 total, 508 total in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility (statute miles): 8

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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From OpenAirDocs.org, an independent open copy of NTSB and FAA data. The NTSB's own report is the official record of an investigation.