- Date
- December 13, 1982
- Place
- Gambell, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8225YPiper PA-34-200T
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 13, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19821213064489A
- Case key
- 70805
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Analysis
On 12/12/82, the aircraft departed on a flight from savoonga to nome, AK. After departure, the pilot noted a problem with the left engine and diverted to Gambell, AK. While en route to Gambell, there was a gradual loss of oil pressure. After landing, the pilot noticed the oil filler cap was missing and found no oil indication of the dipstick. A mechanic added 7 qts of oil. An oil cap from another vehicle was placed on the oil filler neck and secured with duct tape and safety wire. Reportedly, the engine was operationally checked and no discrepancies were noted. The pilot took off and tried to file an IFR flight plan, but encountered freezing rain. He decided to return to Gambell, and while returning noticed the left engine oil pressure was dropping. After the left engine was shut down, ice began accumulating on the windshield and right windows. The aircraft touched down 25 deg left of the runway heading and struck a gravel/snow berm beside the runway. The no 1 cylinder had no compression, a hole was found in the piston.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8225Y
- Reported as
- Piper PA-34-200T
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 34-8070250
- Airframe hours
- 1,787
- Engine
- Continental TSI0360, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- Bering Air Inc.
- Registered owner
- Gene K. Zerkel
- Departed
- Gambell, AK
- Destination
- C · Nome, AK
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- Gambell, runway 34, 4,500 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 28
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 3,102 total · 200 in this make and model · 2,980 as pilot in command · 200 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 5 knots
- Temperature
- 59 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.