# NTSB ANC90LA085: Piper PA-28, N628FL, Circle Hot Spgs, AK, June 9, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 9, 1990, 00:30 local (08:30 UTC)
- Place: Circle Hot Spgs, AK
- Coordinates: 66.889762, -157.159942 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.8898&lon=-157.1599&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 28, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5378
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC90LA085
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5378/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC90LA085

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE WEATHER, AND SURROUNDING TERRAIN, WERE FACTORS.

## 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 - blind/box canyon (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE CEILING AND VISIBILITY WERE GETTING LOWER AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING. DURING TOUCHDOWN THE PILOT MADE A HARD LANDING AND THE AIRPLANE CAUGHT ON FIRE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N628FL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N628FL-1991-01-09), registration cancelled 1991-01-09, S/N 287125518 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 287125518
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Anthony Stratton
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: FAIRBANKS, AK
- Destination: CIRCLE, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 185 total, 57 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19900609021629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900609021629A), Jun 9, 1990: Piper PA28140, Circle Hot Spri, AK, Destroyed. Tried to negotiate a canyon when weather closed in but unable to outclimb rising terrain. Aircraft burned on impact

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.