# NTSB ANC92LA058: Piper PA-31-350, N3555C, Kotzebue, AK, April 4, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 4, 1992, 09:36 local (13:36 UTC)
- Place: Kotzebue, AK
- Coordinates: 67.240852, -161.190948 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.2409&lon=-161.1909&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5710
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC92LA058
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5710/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA058

## Probable cause

PILOT FACTOR IN THAT THE PROPER GLIDEPATH AND ALTITUDE WAS NOT MAINTAINED. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INATTENTIVENESS AND SNOW.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr)
  - terrain condition - snow covered
  - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - inattentive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING THE IFR APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT, THE FLIGHT HAD BEEN CLEARED FOR THE ILS/DME FOR RUNWAY 8. THE PILOT PERFORMED THE PUBLISHED PROCEDURE TURN AND WAS ESTABLISHED ON THE LOCALIZER AND GLIDE SLOPE AT ABOUT 5.5 MILES DME. THE FLIGHT CONTINUED THE DESCENT AS THE PILOT COMPLETED THE BEFORE LANDING CHECKLIST. AT ABOUT 5 MILES DME, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CALL THE FSS TO REPORT FINAL APPROACH FIX INBOUND, HOWEVER, HE HAD TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER AIRPLANE TRANSMITTING. THE PILOT THEN CONTACTED THE FSS AND REPORTED 4.5 MILES DME. SHORTLY AFTER THE RADIO CALL, THE PILOT FELT THE AIRPLANE CONTACT THE GROUND. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HIS LAST INSTRUMENT SCAN THAT HE COULD REMEMBER SHOWED THAT HE WAS ON THE GLIDE PATH AND LOCALIZER AT AN ALTITUDE OF 1,250 FEET. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE VISIBILITY WAS ABOUT 100 YARDS AND BLOWING SNOW.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3555C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3555C-2013-03-07), registration cancelled 2013-03-07, S/N 31-8052058 (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: 31-8052058
- Airframe hours: 3989
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Frontier Flying Service
- Registered owner: Poineer Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, April 3, 1992, 8 hours before
- Departed: FAI, FAIRBANKS, AK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: OTZ, Kotzebue, runway 8, 5,900 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; 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; flight hours: 8,367 total, 4,823 in this make and model, 8,076 as pilot in command, 285 in the last 90 days, 98 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 14 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: OTZ, 4 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 19920404008929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920404008929A), Apr 4, 1992: Piper PA31350, Kotzebue, AK, Substantial damage. Flew into snow covered ground on ILS approach using command bars. Descended below dh while transmitting position.

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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