# NTSB ANC93FA067: Piper PA-28-180, N16275, Talkeetna, AK, October 12, 1992 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: October 11, 1992, 20:30 local (Oct 12, 1992, 04:30 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.450462, -149.789169 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4505&lon=-149.7892&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 4 fatal - Status: Completed, report May 26, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2302 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93FA067 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2302/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93FA067 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S CONTINUED VISUAL FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AT NIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL, SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, AND AN INFLIGHT BREAKUP. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER AND THE DARK NIGHT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal - weather condition - snow (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - aircraft control - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause) - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause) - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, maneuvering - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) - wing - overload - wing - separation - stabilizer - overload - stabilizer - overload - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE FLIGHT HAD DEPARTED FAIRBANKS ON A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WITH A DESTINATION OF ANCHORAGE. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT BOTH THE DEPARTURE POINT AND THE DESTINATION; HOWEVER, THERE WERE REPORTED AREAS OF INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EN ROUTE. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED INTO TREES 11 MI NORTH OF TALKEETNA. THE LEFT OUTBOARD 4 FT OF WING AND THE LEFT STABILATOR WERE LOCATED 3/8 MI WEST OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE. ## Factual narrative On October 11, 1992, at 2030 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Piper, PA 28 180 airplane, N16275, crashed into trees one mile east of mile marker 131 of the Parks Highway, which is located 11 miles north of Talkeetna, Alaska. The airplane was registered to H and H Air Services of Anchorage, Alaska, and was rented by the Pilot in Command. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, last departed Fairbanks, Alaska, at 1830 on a visual flight rules flight plan and the destination was Merrill Field in Anchorage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the departure point and the destination; however, there were reported areas of instrument meteorological conditions en route. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces, and the Pilot in Command and the three passengers were fatally injured. Preliminary examination of the wreckage shows that the left outboard 4 feet of wing and the left stabilator were located 3/8 of a mile west of the main airplane wreckage. This airplane was reported missing on October 11, 1992, at 2248 Alaska standard time and was located on May 22, 1993. The previous preliminary report number was ANC93FAMS2. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N16275](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16275-2013-09-17), registration cancelled 2013-09-17, S/N 28-7305218, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7305218 - Airframe hours: 6246 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Brewer, Matthew J. - Registered owner: H&H Air Services Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 12, 1992 - Departed: FAI, FAIRBANKS, AK - Destination: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 50 total, 20 in this make and model, 20 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TKA, 14 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 19921011043759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921011043759A), Oct 11, 1992: Piper PA28180, Talkeetna, AK, Destroyed, 4 fatal. En route MVFR. Wreckage indicates spiral dive and pullup separated left wing and stabilizer. Low time and experience 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.