- Date
- February 8, 1986, 21:23 local (Feb 9, 1986, 01:23 UTC)
- Place
- Mcgrath, AK
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N7071CPiper PA-28-235
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report March 25, 1988
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19860208002359A
- Case key
- 4637
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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.
Analysis
The pilot had been drinking for an unknown period before undertaking the night flight. After takeoff, the acft was observed flying in the local area in an erratic manner. Subsequently, the acft crashed about .6 mi short of rwy 16. Impact occurred at the base of a snow covered, gravel bank. The pilot did not possess a valid medical certificate. He had been denied flying privileges by the regional FAA flt surgeon for the condition of alcoholism. A check of his blood showed an alcohol level of 0.240%.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7071C
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-235
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7610046
- Airframe hours
- 3,584
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-B4B5, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Daniel L. Smith
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Unknown · July 23, 1985 · 21 hours before
- Airport
- MCG · Mcgarth, runway 16, 5,460 × 150 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 27
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 5,011 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 30 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MCG
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.