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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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April 17, 1983 · Piper PA-32-300 · N4060W

Bettles, AK

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 17, 1983
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Bettles, AK
Aircraft
Piper PA-32-300
Tail Number
N4060W
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC83FA071

According to witnesses, the acft was seen flying along the Trans Alaska Pipeline at an estimated alt of 200 ft AGL. As the acft entered a pass, where the pipeline crossed rising terrain, a witness heard the acft's eng power increase, then the plane disappeared from his view in falling snow. Shortly thereafter, he could no longer hear the eng & assumed the acft had made it thru the pass. Later, the acft was found by a pipeline helicopter plt where it had crashed at the 4700 level of the pass. The pipeline plt reported the visibility was 1/2 mi in snow & the ceiling was 100 ft obscured at the highest point in the pass. Witnesses at the base of the pass estimated the ceiling was 100 to 200 ft, the visibility was 1/2 to 1 mi & light to moderate snow was falling. The crash site was located just beyond the point where the pipeline transitioned from an above ground installation to a below ground installation. No evidence of a preimpact malfunction was found.

Full Narrative

ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE ACFT WAS SEEN FLYING ALONG THE TRANS ALASKA PIPELINE AT AN ESTIMATED ALT OF 200 FT AGL. AS THE ACFT ENTERED A PASS, WHERE THE PIPELINE CROSSED RISING TERRAIN, A WITNESS HEARD THE ACFT'S ENG POWER INCREASE, THEN THE PLANE DISAPPEARED FROM HIS VIEW IN FALLING SNOW. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, HE COULD NO LONGER HEAR THE ENG & ASSUMED THE ACFT HAD MADE IT THRU THE PASS. LATER, THE ACFT WAS FOUND BY A PIPELINE HELICOPTER PLT WHERE IT HAD CRASHED AT THE 4700 LEVEL OF THE PASS. THE PIPELINE PLT REPORTED THE VISIBILITY WAS 1/2 MI IN SNOW & THE CEILING WAS 100 FT OBSCURED AT THE HIGHEST POINT IN THE PASS. WITNESSES AT THE BASE OF THE PASS ESTIMATED THE CEILING WAS 100 TO 200 FT, THE VISIBILITY WAS 1/2 TO 1 MI & LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW WAS FALLING. THE CRASH SITE WAS LOCATED JUST BEYOND THE POINT WHERE THE PIPELINE TRANSITIONED FROM AN ABOVE GROUND INSTALLATION TO A BELOW GROUND INSTALLATION. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:00 AHST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-32-300
Tail NumberN4060W
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-K1A5 · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 38 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Ceiling200 ft
Temperature / Dew Point25 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data