Piper PA-32-260 accident near Cordova, AK
On October 16, 2022, a Piper PA-32-260 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Cordova, AK. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- October 16, 2022
- Place
- Cordova, AK
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 60.464°N, 145.822°W
- NTSB ID
- 20221017106134
Official records · ANC23LA002
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Mfr Fss Communication With Pilot: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn October 16, 2022, about 1427 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-32-260, N3432W, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Cordova, Alaska. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The pilot departed from Yakutat Airport (PYAK), Yakutat, Alaska, and was traveling along the coast to his home in St Louis, Missouri. Near Ketchikan, Alaska, the pilot turned the airplane around due to poor weather and returned to YAK. The pilot called a friend after landing and they discussed the poor weather along the coast. The pilot told his friend that he was tired of flying in poor weather conditions and was going to return the airplane to Birchwood Airport (PABV), Birchwood, Alaska, leave the airplane there, and fly home commercially. His friend recommended that the pilot stay in Yakutat until the weather improved. The pilot called the Alaska Flight Service Station (AK FSS) about 1220. He was provided weather information and informed that “VFR flight was not recommended.” The pilot told AK FSS that he was having trouble hearing them and said he would call them back on frequency. The pilot subsequently radioed AK FSS about 1224. The pilot was provided an abbreviated weather briefing per his request and was informed again that VFR flight in the Cordova, Alaska, area was not recommended due to the weather conditions. The pilot informed AK FSS he planned to depart PYAK about 1300. At 1426, the pilot contacted AK FSS and provided an update on his position and reques
Probable cause
The pilot’s improper decision to continue visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
More accidents in AK
- Beech 1900C, Nov 23, 1987
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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.
