# NTSB ANC90FA034: Piper PA-31-350, N27328, Cold Bay, AK, February 17, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 17, 1990, 13:35 local (17:35 UTC)
- Place: Cold Bay, AK
- Coordinates: 55.219692, -162.780624 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.2197&lon=-162.7806&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 3, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5283
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC90FA034
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5283/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC90FA034

## Probable cause

CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE (OR CLEARANCE) FROM MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.  THE ADVERSE WEATHER AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS WERE RELATED FACTORS.

## Analysis

THE SCHEDULED FLIGHT'S DEPARTURE FROM KING COVE WAS DELAYED DUE TO A PASSING SNOW SQUALL.  A WITNESS AT THE AIRPORT STATED THAT THE WEATHER AT THE AIRPORT WAS GOOD WHEN THE FLIGHT DEPARTED; HOWEVER, HE NOTED DARK CLOUDS IN THE DIRECTION OF COLD BAY, THE INTENDED DESTINATION OF THE FLIGHT.  THE AIRPLANE DID NOT REACH ITS DESTINATION.  IT WAS FOUND, WHERE IT HAD IMPACTED TERRAIN NEAR THE TOP OF A RIDGELINE AT THE 1250 FOOT LEVEL, BETWEEN KING COVE & COLD BAY. ABOUT 8 MILES WEST-NORTHWEST AT COLD BAY, WEATHER REPORTS INDICATED THERE WERE SNOW SHOWERS OF UNKNOWN INTENSITY IN ALL QUADRANTS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N27328](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27328-1990-03-13), registration cancelled 1990-03-13, S/N 317752149 (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: 31-7752149
- Airframe hours: 12690
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Peninsula Airways
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 13, 1990, 5 hours before
- Departed: KVC, KING COVE, AK
- Destination: CDB, COLD BAY, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: KVC

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; commercial, airline transport; 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: 9,487 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 9,031 as pilot in command, 211 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 6 knots
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CDB, 11 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 19900217002249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900217002249A), Feb 17, 1990: Piper PA31350, King Cove, AK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Failed to clear a ridge line between King Cove and cold bay. Heavy snow squalls in area. No weather briefing.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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