Piper PA-32-300 accident near Haines, AK
On July 30, 2001, a Piper PA-32-300 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Haines, AK. 6 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 30, 2001
- Place
- Haines, AK
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 6 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 59.067°N, 135.783°W
- NTSB ID
- 20010816X01703
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 30, 2001, about 1435 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Piper PA-32-300 airplane, N39586, was destroyed when it impacted mountainous terrain about 5,500 feet msl, adjacent to the Davidson Glacier, approximately 13 miles southwest of Haines, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand air tour flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was owned and operated by LAB Flying Service, Inc., of Haines. The certificated commercial pilot and the five passengers were fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions were reported in the area at the time of the accident, and a company VFR flight plan was in effect. The flight departed Skagway, Alaska, about 1400, and was en route to Glacier Bay National Park via the Davidson Glacier. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on July 30, the chief pilot for the operator reported that the accident airplane departed Skagway as the first of two airplanes conducting air tour flights over the Glacier Bay National Park. He added that the standard route of flight, after departing Skagway, would be to proceed southbound along the Taiya Inlet, cross the Chilkat Inlet, climb over the Davidson Glacier, and descend into the Glacier Bay area. He added that when the first of the two airplanes failed to return to Skagway, an aerial search was initiated. During an interview with the NTSB IIC on August 1, the pilot of the second tour airplane stated that as both airplanes clim
Probable cause
The pilot's continued flight into known adverse weather conditions, and his poor in-flight decision making. Factors associated with the accident were clouds and mountainous terrain. A finding is the pilot's use of FAA prohibited drugs.
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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.
