# NTSB ANC90FA161: Piper PA-31-325, N59783, Kaltag, AK, September 3, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 3, 1990, 15:20 local (23:20 UTC)
- Place: Kaltag, AK
- Coordinates: 64.350082, -158.769058 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.3501&lon=-158.7691&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 6 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5307
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC90FA161
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5307/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC90FA161

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE AFTER BECOMING DISTRACTED WITH AN ENGINE PROBLEM.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  LOSS OF POWER IN THE #2 ENGINE FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON AND THE LOW OVERCAST CONDITION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise
  - 1 engine
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (contributing factor)
  - 
- In flight collision with terrain/water, other
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - water
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE #2 ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AS HE WAS FLYING UNDER A LOW OVERCAST & ABOUT 500 FT ABOVE A RIVER.  SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED & THE FUSELAGE & LEFT PROPELLER CONTACTED THE WATER.  WITH THESE PROBLEMS & DECREASING VISIBILITY AHEAD, THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A 180 DEGREE TURN. HE SAID THAT ABOUT MIDWAY THROUGH THE TURN, THE #2 ENGINE LOST ALL POWER.  THE AIRPLANE THEN CRASHED INTO TREES & WAS DESTROYED BY A POST-IMPACT FIRE.  NO REASON WAS FOUND FOR EITHER ENGINE TO LOSE POWER BEFORE WATER OR TREE CONTACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N59783](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59783-1991-06-05), registration cancelled 1991-06-05, S/N 317612024 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-325
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-325](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-325) (registry code 7103105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-7612024
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-F2BD 325 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Frontier Flying Service
- Registered owner: Christopher A. Stepovich
- Departed: NUL, NULATO, AK
- Destination: KAL, KALTAG, AK
- Airport: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 8,150 total, 500 in this make and model, 6,943 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Wind: 220° at 5 knots, gusting 7
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19900903037619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900903037619A), Sep 3, 1990: Piper PA31325, Kaltag, AK, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Lost power right engine. Did not feather. Settled hit river then trees. NR5 cylinder came loose.

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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