Piper PA-32-300 accident near Juneau, AK
On October 23, 1997, a Piper PA-32-300 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Juneau, AK. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 23, 1997
- Place
- Juneau, AK
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 58.580°N, 134.770°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X08941
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 23, 1997, approximately 1445 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300 airplane, N30505, was destroyed when it impacted mountainous terrain 16 miles southeast of Juneau, Alaska. The commercial pilot and sole passenger sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated by L. A. B. Flying Service, Inc., of Haines, Alaska. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 135 as an on-demand air taxi passenger and cargo flight. The flight departed Juneau at 1430, for Kake, Alaska, after several hours of weather delays. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at Juneau and Kake at the time of the accident, and a company VFR flight plan was filed. Reports received through interviews by the NTSB Investigator-In-Charge (IIC) with pilots who had flown in the vicinity of the accident site on the day of the accident, indicated that broken and overcast cloud layers existed above 1,000 feet msl and rain showers with mountain obscuration were present along the proposed route of flight. The accident pilot departed at 1417, along with another company airplane traveling to Kake. He was recalled to pick up a passenger, and departed a second time at 1427. The chief pilot, and company line pilots interviewed by the NTSB IIC, indicated the pilot was irritated by this delay. These pilots also felt there was possibly an air of competition between the accident pilot, and the other pilot flying to Kake, to arrive at Kake first. The typical route of flight between Juneau and Kake utilizes either the valley where Young Lake is located, or Oliver Inlet located approximately tw
Probable cause
The pilot's intentional flight into adverse weather. Related factors were the low ceilings, mountainous terrain, and self induced pressure by the pilot to complete the flight and return for the evening.
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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.
