# NTSB ANC85FA146: Piper PA-30, N7811Y, Kodiak, AK, August 5, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 5, 1985, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Kodiak, AK
- Coordinates: 57.78931, -152.40036 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.7893&lon=-152.4004&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4425
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC85FA146
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4425/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85FA146

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with geographic area, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING A WX BRIEFING AT 0719 ADT, THE PLT WAS ADVISED THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. LATER, AT 0827. HE CALLED THE FSS TO UPDATE HIS WX & FILED AN IFR CLEARANCE. AT 0938, THE ACFT DEPARTED ANCHORAGE. DURING ARRIVAL AT KODIAK, THE ACFT WAS CLEARED FOR AN ILS/DME-ONE APCH TO RWY 25. AT 1056, THE PLT REPORTED HE WAS 8.5 DME MI NORTH OF KODIAK & LEVEL AT 1600 FT. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, RADIO CONTACT WAS LOST & THE ELT SOUNDED. LATER, THE ACFT WAS FOUND WHERE IT COLLIDED WITH A MOUNTAIN SIDE AT AN ELEVATION OF 1450 FT. THE CRASH SITE WAS LOCATED APRX 5 MI NORTH OF THE ARPT, OUTSIDE OF AN AREA WHERE THE INSTRUMENT APCH WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE ACFT. THE 1057 WX OBSERVATION AT THE ARPT WAS IN PART: 1000 FT SCATTERED, 3500 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 10 MI. THE ARPT ELEV WAS 73 FT MSL. THE WX IN THE MOUNTAINS WHERE THE PLANE CRASHED WAS NOT VERIFIED. THIS WAS THE PLT'S 1ST APCH TO THIS ARPT. RADAR SVC WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE PLT'S LOG BOOK WAS NOT FOUND. REPORTEDLY, HE HAD NOT FLOWN MANY RECENT APCHS & WAS USE TO HAVING RADAR ASSISTANCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7811Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7811Y-2013-05-09), registration cancelled 2013-05-09, S/N 30-890, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30-890
- Airframe hours: 3051
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert J. Harris Sr
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 1984, 199 hours before
- Departed: ANC, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: AD, Kodiak, runway 25, 7,548 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 6,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ADQ, 5 nm away

## 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 19850805038989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850805038989A), Aug 5, 1985: Piper PA30, Kodiak, AK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Unable to execute a DME arc, wandered into high terrain, impacted side of mountain with obscured tops.

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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