Piper PA-24-250 accident near Big Lake, AK
On August 10, 2014, a Piper PA-24-250 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Big Lake, AK. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- August 10, 2014
- Place
- Big Lake, AK
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 61.324°N, 149.490°W
- NTSB ID
- 20140810X80540
Official records · ANC14FA062
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 10, 2014, about 0217 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250 airplane, N5158P, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with trees and terrain while attempting to land on Runway 7 at the Big Lake Airport, Big Lake, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) local flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 when the accident occurred. The private pilot was fatally injured, and the sole passenger sustained serious injuries. Dark night, visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed Merrill Field Airport, Anchorage, Alaska, about 0202. The pilot had been in Anchorage for a social visit, and was returning home to Big Lake when the accident occurred. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 15, 2014 the passenger stated that the pilot had picked her up sometime after 2100 on August 9th, they went to dinner and then to a local bar. They had departed Anchorage and were flying to Big Lake to the pilot's house. She stated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane and that the pilot did not mention any concerns over the course of the flight. She remembered hitting something like a "bump", but could not recall the accident sequence. According to witnesses, the accident pilot and his passenger were seen at local bar in Anchorage, during the early morning hours of August 10. Various bar patrons reported that both the accid
Probable cause
The pilot's impairment due to alcohol consumption, which resulted in his failure to maintain clearance from trees.
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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.
