# NTSB ANC85FA041: Piper PA-31-350, N4112D, Savoonga, AK, January 27, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 27, 1985, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Savoonga, AK
- Coordinates: 63.679683, -170.490692 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.6797&lon=-170.4907&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4395
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC85FA041
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4395/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85FA041

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING ARRIVAL, HE OVERFLEW THE ARPT & MADE A RIGHT TURN WHILE WATCHING THE VILLAGE. AS HE MANEUVERED, HE ENCOUNTERED WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS, TURNED TOO FAR & SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH RISING TERRAIN. THE WX OVER THE GENERAL AREA PRIOR TO & AT THE TIME OF THE ACDNT WAS REPORTED AS MARGINAL VFR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4112D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4112D), registered now, S/N 31-8353004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 8353004
- Airframe hours: 2126
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-J2B 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Bering Air, doing business as Bering Air, Inc.
- Registered owner: Alaska Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 21, 1985, 26 hours before
- Departed: OME, NOME, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: SVA, Savoonga, runway 23, 4,600 × 100 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,950 total, 2,100 in this make and model, 5,721 as pilot in command, 310 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft unknown
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19850127001749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850127001749A), Jan 27, 1985: Piper PA31350, Savoonga, AK, Substantial damage. Overflew airport looking for VASI or runway lights and while keeping village in sight struck rising terrain.

## Other investigations on N4112D (3)

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.

- [NTSB ANC26LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA005), Nov 17, 2025: Piper PA-31-350 (N4112D), Eek, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control when the airplane encountered snow and ice on the runway while landing at night in gusting crosswind conditions.
- [NTSB ANC98LA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA167), Sep 17, 1998: Piper PA-31-350 (N4112D), Noorvik, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A failure of the pilot to follow the aircraft checklist, and an inadvertent wheels up landing.
- [NTSB ANC93LA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA105), Jun 29, 1993: Piper PA-31-350 (N4112D), Gambell, AK, no damage. Probable cause: INTENTIONAL PERSONAL INJURY. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PERSON'S PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITION, AND THE LACK OF SUFFICIENT PROCEDURES/AIRPORT STAFF BY THE OPERATOR(S).

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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