Aviation Crash Map

Piper PA-32-300 N30505

18 June 1993 · Juneau, Alaska, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 18 June 1993 at about 22:30 local time, a Piper PA-32-300 registered N30505, operated by L.a.b. Flying Service, was involved in an accident near Juneau, Alaska, United States. 6 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 22:30
Classification
Accident
Location
Juneau, Alaska, United States
Coordinates
58.5800, -134.7709
Aircraft
Piper PA-32-300
Registration
N30505
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
L.a.b. Flying Service
Operating rule
Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Purpose of flight
Unknown
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Skagway → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
IMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
ANC93LA096

People

1 person had minor injuries.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
6 0 0 1 5

Probable cause

THE PILOT CONTINUING VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, THE CLOUDY WEATHER CONDITIONS IN THE PASS, THE PILOT BECOMING DISORIENTED, HIS LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AREA, THE COMPANY'S INADEQUATE PROCEDURES CONCERNING MOUNTAIN OPERATIONS, AND INSUFFICIENT STANDARDS SET BY THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT STATED HE WAS FOLLOWING A COMPANY AIRPLANE, WHICH WAS 3-5 MI AHEAD, THROUGH A PASS. HE LOST SIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE, FLEW THROUGH THE WRONG PASS AND ENTERED CLOUDS. HE STARTED A 180-DEG TURN, SLOWED THE AIRPLANE AND BEGAN A DESCENT. UPON SEEING THE SNOW COVERED GLACIER, HE LANDED ON THE SURFACE. THE PASS HE WAS SUPPOSED TO FLY THROUGH WAS TO HIS RIGHT, AND HE DID NOT MAKE THE RIGHT TURN. HE FLEW STRAIGHT AHEAD INTO A CANYON. THE CHIEF PILOT HAD FLOWN A TRAINING FLIGHT WITH THE PILOT AND SHOWED HIM THE PASS AND PROCEDURES TO BE USED. THE COMPANY REQUIRES THEIR PILOTS TO WATCH A VIDEO OUTLINING THE COMPANY POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR MOUNTAIN FLYING AND PASS PENETRATION. THE COMPANY'S TRAINING MANUAL SHOWS NO REFERENCE TO TRAINING IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN OR MOUNTAIN PASS OPERATION, NOR DOES IT REFERENCE THE VIDEO. IN ADDITION, THE COMPANY OPERATIONS MANUAL DOES NOT ADDRESS MINIMUM WEATHER OPERATIONS, MOUNTAIN OPERATIONS, OR MOUNTAIN PASS OPERATIONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-32 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
25 Dec 1993 Piper PA-32-300
N2872D
Atlanta, Georgia, United States - No injuries -
15 Feb 1993 Piper PA-32-300
N15267
Truckee, California, United States
no coordinates
Baker, Raymond C. SR. Fatal 4
30 Nov 1993 Piper PA-32-300
N4081W
Fallon, Nevada, United States Fallon Aeromotive, Inc. Serious injuries -
3 Mar 1993 Piper PA-32-260
N821SC
Riverton, Wyoming, United States Karl T. Lieb Minor injuries -
10 Apr 1993 Piper PA-32-300
N4079R
Danville, Arkansas, United States Henderson, Paul J. No injuries -
2 Jun 1993 Piper PA-32-300
N8127K
Skagway, Alaska, United States Skagway Air Service, Inc. Minor injuries -

All 1,695 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
21 Jul 1993 Cessna A185F
N124KT
Denali Nat'l Pk, Alaska, United States James Okonek Serious injuries -
4 Aug 1993 Piper PA-32R-300
N477JC
Atigun Pass, Alaska, United States Yutana Airlines Fatal 1
19 Aug 1993 De Havilland DHC-3
N321KA
Nikabuna Lake, Alaska, United States Ketchum Air Service Inc. Minor injuries -
31 Aug 1993 De Havilland DHC-2
N64273
Iliamna, Alaska, United States Rainbow King, Inc Fatal 3
2 Sep 1993 Piper PA-18A-150
N4713A
Sanona Creek, Alaska, United States Garfield, Wade E. Fatal 2
8 Sep 1993 Interstate S-1B2 ARCTIC TERN
N64AT
Talkeetna River, Alaska, United States Franklin, Gary L. Serious injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States