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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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January 30, 1988 · Piper PA-32-300 · N123TA

Cold Bay, AK

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 30, 1988
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Cold Bay, AK
Aircraft
Piper PA-32-300
Tail Number
N123TA
Operator
Peninsula Airways
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC88LA027

THE ATP CERTIFICATED PILOT IN COMMAND DEPARTED ON A SOLO, CARGO-ONLY AIR-TAXI FLIGHT AT 1104 A.K.S.T. FOR A DESTINATION 83SM TO THE N.E. THE PILOT WAS NORMALLY ASSIGNED TO COPILOT DUTIES ON A MULTI-ENGINED AIRPLANE, AND WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE TERRAIN HE WAS FLYING OVER ON THIS FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK RISING TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 40SM N.E. OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PILOT SAYS HE DOES NOT RECALL THE FLIGHT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT; HE SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES AND WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS DURING IMPACT. WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE CRASH SITE ARE UNKNOWN, BUT A PILOT FLYING IN THE SAME GENERAL AREA SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT REPORTED LOCALIZED AREAS OF FOG AND SNOW THAT REDUCED VISIBILITY TO LESS THAN ONE-HALF MILE. THE PILOT WAS RECOVERED BY COAST GUARD SEARCH AND RESCUE PERSONNEL APPROXIMATELY 24 HOURS AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

Full Narrative

THE ATP CERTIFICATED PILOT IN COMMAND DEPARTED ON A SOLO, CARGO-ONLY AIR-TAXI FLIGHT AT 1104 A.K.S.T. FOR A DESTINATION 83SM TO THE N.E. THE PILOT WAS NORMALLY ASSIGNED TO COPILOT DUTIES ON A MULTI-ENGINED AIRPLANE, AND WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE TERRAIN HE WAS FLYING OVER ON THIS FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK RISING TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 40SM N.E. OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PILOT SAYS HE DOES NOT RECALL THE FLIGHT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT; HE SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES AND WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS DURING IMPACT. WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE CRASH SITE ARE UNKNOWN, BUT A PILOT FLYING IN THE SAME GENERAL AREA SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT REPORTED LOCALIZED AREAS OF FOG AND SNOW THAT REDUCED VISIBILITY TO LESS THAN ONE-HALF MILE. THE PILOT WAS RECOVERED BY COAST GUARD SEARCH AND RESCUE PERSONNEL APPROXIMATELY 24 HOURS AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time06:25 AKST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-32-300
Tail NumberN123TA
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorPeninsula Airways
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-K1G5 · Reciprocating · 300
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 34 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point34 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data