# NTSB SEA91FA207: Piper PA-32, N4075W, Gustavus, AK, August 15, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 14, 1991, 19:00 local (Aug 15, 1991, 03:00 UTC)
- Place: Gustavus, AK
- Coordinates: 58.419345, -135.779159 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.4193&lon=-135.7792&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41334
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA91FA207
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41334/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA91FA207

## Probable cause

VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AND/OR CLEARANCE FROM MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  THE ADVERSE WEATHER AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, climb
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - blind/box canyon (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

AFTER DEPARTING THE GUSTAVUS ARPT, THE PLT TURNED THE ACFT TOWARD EXCURSION INLET & AIR-FILED A VFR FLT PLAN.  AFTER THE FLT PLAN WAS FILED, THERE WERE NO FURTHER RADIO TRANSMISSIONS FROM THE ACFT.  A SEARCH WAS INITIATED, BUT HVY FOG, CLOUDS & DARKNESS HAMPERED THE SEARCH.  WRECKAGE WAS FOUND THE NEXT MORNING, WHERE THE ACFT HAD CRASHED ON STEEP RISING TERRAIN IN A BOX CANYON AREA.  IMPACT OCCURRED AT THE END OF A VALLEY THAT BEGAN NEAR EXCURSION INLET.  ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS APRX 4000 FT, TERRAIN IN THAT AREA ROSE TO ABOUT 4600 FT.  TWO OTHER PILOTS THAT DEPARTED HAINES NEAR THE TIME OF THE ACDNT RPRTD THE CEILING WAS BROKEN TO OVERCAST AT ABOUT 4000 FT.  RPRTDLY, THE MOUNTAIN TOPS WERE OBSCURED, BUT THE VISIBILITY BELOW THE CLOUDS WAS ABOUT 20 MI.  THE PROP BLADES WERE FOUND WITH DEEP CHORDWISE SCARS & LEADING EDGE/ROTATIONAL DAMAGE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4075W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4075W-1992-01-14), registration cancelled 1992-01-14, S/N 3240115 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-40115
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Haines Airways
- Departed: GST, GUSTAVUS, AK
- Destination: HNS, HAINES, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,700 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 3,500 as pilot in command, 81 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 5 knots
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Observed at: GST, 13 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 19910814034439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910814034439A), Aug 14, 1991: Piper PA32300, Gustavus, AK, Destroyed, 6 fatal. Flew into side of cloud obscured mountain.

## Other investigations on N4075W (1)

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.

- [NTSB MKC75FCD25](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC75FCD25), Dec 8, 1974: Piper PA-32 (N4075W), Clarinda, IA, substantial damage

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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