Piper PA-32-300 accident near Old Harbor, AK
On July 2, 2023, a Piper PA-32-300 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Old Harbor, AK. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 2, 2023
- Place
- Old Harbor, AK
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 3 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 57.241°N, 153.180°W
- NTSB ID
- 20230703192496
Official records · ANC23FA045
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 2, 2023, about 1510 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300, N1132Q, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Old Harbor, Alaska. The pilot and two passengers were seriously injured, and two passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 non-scheduled passenger flight. The airplane departed from Old Harbor Airport (OLH), Old Harbor, Alaska, about 1504 and was transporting four passengers, their baggage, and cargo to Kodiak, Alaska. The pilot reported the airplane was able to maintain a climb rate of 500 ft per minute and that the engine was maintaining 2,500 rpm and 25 inches of manifold pressure. While flying up the valley, the pilot determined that the airplane needed 200 more feet of altitude to cross over the 950-ft mountain pass. He did not think the airplane was going to be able to climb high enough to clear the pass and planned to make a 180° turn to gain more altitude. He wanted to make the turn to the left, so he maneuvered the airplane to the right side of the valley; however, the airplane “stopped climbing,” though the engine indications remained normal. Before he could make the left 180° turn, the airplane ran out of altitude and impacted terrain. The pilot reported no mechanical issues with the airplane. Passengers reported that the pilot maintained full engine power and there was no change in engine power before impact. A pilot in another airplane with a similar load departed two minutes before the accident airplane, flew the same route, and rep
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s delayed decision to turn away from the terrain.
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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.
