# NTSB ANC87FA165: Piper PA-31-310, Eldred Rock, AK, September 21, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 20, 1987, 17:05 local (Sep 21, 1987, 01:05 UTC)
- Place: Eldred Rock, AK
- Location: 58.9717° N, 135.2208° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Eldred Rock, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.9717&lon=-135.2208&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4791
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC87FA165
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4791/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC87FA165

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE FLT WAS CLRD ON AN IFR FLT FM WHITEHORSE TO JUNEAU, VIA V-428 TO CHILL INTXN, THEN DRCT TO JUNEAU. CHILL INTXN WAS LOCATED ON V-428, 36 MI SOUTH OF HAINES NDB ON A BEARING OF 146 DEG. ON REACHING HAINES NDB, THE PLT CANCELLED HIS IFR CLNC & CONTD UNDER VISUAL FLT RULES (VFR). SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED ON A GLACIER BETWEEN HAINES & JUNEAU, APRX 15 MI SE OF HAINES NDB AT AN ELEV OF ABOUT 4500'. A PLT, FLYING ABOUT 5 MI SW OF THE CRASH SITE AT THE TIME OF THE ACDNT, RPRTD A BKN TO OVC CEILING AT 2500' TO 3000' MSL. THE ACDNT SITE WAS NEAR THE HAINES TRANSITION OF THE BARLO 4 DEPARTURE (SID). IN THAT AREA, THE MIN EN ROUTE ALT FOR FLT ON THE HAINES TRANSITION WAS 9000' UNDER INSTRUMENT FLT RULES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: CGPAC (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-310
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-759
- Airframe hours: 7530
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-A2B 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 129
- Registered owner: Air North Charter & Training
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, September 17, 1987
- Departed: YXY, WHITEHORSE
- Destination: JNU, JUNEAU, AK
- Flight plan: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; foreign; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,400 total, 50 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 11 knots
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: Z26, 20 nm away

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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