# NTSB SEA83FA131: Piper PA-32-300, N4013R, Glacier Peak, WA, June 19, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 19, 1983, 11:51 local (18:51 UTC)
- Place: Glacier Peak, WA
- Coordinates: 48.190181, -121.21022 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1902&lon=-121.2102&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39617
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA83FA131
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39617/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA83FA131

## 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 - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A SIDE OF GLACIER PEAK AT ABOUT 10000 FT MSL WHILE IN LEVEL FLT. THE EXACT WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE ACCIDENT SITE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT ARE UNKNOWN BUT SEVERAL MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS AT 6000 FT ABOUT 2 MILES AWAY ATABOUT THE SAME TIME DESCRIBE THE WEATHER AS SKY OBSCURED, VISIBILITY 50 FT IN LIGHT TO MODERATE WET SNOW, NO WIND. TEMPERATURE +38 DEGREES F. THE FLT WAS ENROUTE FROM ALDERWOOD MANOR TO THE PILOTS PRIVATE AIRSTRIP NEAR SPOKANE, WA. A WITNESS WHO HAD FLOWN THE ROUTE WITH THE PLT SEVERAL TIMES SAID THAT THE FLT NORMALLY PASSED SOUTH OF GLACIER PEAK AT ABOUT 10000-11000 FT. HE SAID THAT THE PILOT USED NAV AIDS ALONG THE ROUTE AND WOULD FLY IN CLOUDS IF THE WEATHER DICTATED IT. THE PILOT DID NOT NORMALLY TALK WITH ANYONE ON THE RADIO DURING FLT IN THE CLOUDS. HE DID HOWEVER ALWAYS GET A WEATHER BRIEFING. IT IS NOT KNOWN WHICH IF ANY NAV AIDS THE PLT USED DURING THE ACCIDENT FLT. THERE IS NO KNOWN RECORD OF COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE ACFT AND ANY RADIO FACILITY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4013R (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-40307
- Airframe hours: 3035
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Phillip E. Strathy
- Registered owner: Mr. Davidson,Canniff & Strathy
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 13, 1982, 47 hours before
- Departed: S13, ALDERWOOD MANOR, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,500 total, 757 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Temperature: 37 °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 19830619026459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830619026459A), Jun 19, 1983: Piper PA32300, Darrington, WA, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Flew into the side of cloud obscured rocky mountain peak. Witnesses heard low flying aircraft in snow and clouds.

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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