# NTSB ANC85FA047: Piper PA-31, N63719, Port Heiden, AK, February 14, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 14, 1985, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Port Heiden, AK
- Coordinates: 56.959358, -158.579681 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=56.9594&lon=-158.5797&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4397
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC85FA047
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4397/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85FA047

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THIS FLT ORIGINATED NEAR BECHAROF LAKE AND WAS DESTINED FOR COLD BAY. ACFT CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN AT THE 7500 FT LEVEL, 23 MILES LEFT OF COURSE. MARGINAL WEATHER CONDITIONS EXISTED INCLUDING A 35 KT RIGHT X-WIND. PLT HAD FLOWN THE SAME ROUTE ABOUT 1 HR PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. COMPANY VFR FLT PLAN WAS FILED. ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT SUNSET.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N63719 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7712042
- Airframe hours: 4284
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-A2C 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Registered owner: Peninsula Airways
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 5, 1985, 23 hours before
- Departed: XAB, BECHAROF LAKE 1, AK
- Destination: CDB, COLD BAY, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,427 total, 2,250 in this make and model, 4,239 as pilot in command, 148 in the last 90 days, 48 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Night/dark

## 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 19850214027249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850214027249A), Feb 14, 1985: Piper PA31, Port Heiden, AK, Destroyed. Hit mountain 23 miles east of course in low ceiling and visibility. May have used inaccurate loran radio guidance.

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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