Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Atigun Pass, AK
On August 4, 1993, a Piper PA-32R-300 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Atigun Pass, AK. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 4, 1993
- Place
- Atigun Pass, AK
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 64.810°N, 147.719°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X13020
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 4, 1993 at 1438 Alaska daylight time, a retractable gear, wheel equipped Piper PA-32R-300 Lance airplane, N477JC, registered to the Athabascan Air Group and operated by Yutana Air Service of Tanana, Alaska, crashed in Atigun Pass, located 21 miles south of Galbraith Lake, Alaska. The repositioning flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, last departed Galbraith Lake and the destination was Bettles, Alaska. The Commercial Certificated Pilot in Command, the sole occupant, was fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed by post impact fire. A visual flight rules flight plan was in effect and according to another pilot, instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in Atigun Pass. According to Yutana Airlines records, the Pilot departed Fairbanks at 0815 as a scheduled commuter flight stopping at Rampart, Stevens Village, Allakaket, Bettles, Anaktuvuk Pass, Galbraith Lake, back through Anaktuvuk Pass, Bettles, and return to Fairbanks. The flight plan that the Pilot had filed at Galbraith Lake indicated his intended return through Anaktuvuk Pass, a pass with which he was familiar. However, according to a witness, an Alaska Helicopter pilot working at Galbraith Lake, the Pilot of N477JC mentioned that he might attempt to go through Atigun Pass to return to Fairbanks. The Pilot indicated he was not familiar with the pass and he would "go take a look." The helicopter pilot advised him not to attempt passage through Atigun Pass especially with the meteorological conditions present and his unfamiliarity with the pass. The helicopter pilot stated an airp
Probable cause
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INTENTIONAL VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND HIS UNFAMILIARITY WITH THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA. FACTORS WERE THE RAIN AND FOG.
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Browse: Alaska · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
