Piper PA-32 N2181Z

Summary

On 2 September 1996 at about 01:56 local time, a Piper PA-32 registered N2181Z was involved in an accident near Haines, Alaska, United States. 6 people were on board and 4 were seriously injured, 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 September 1996 at 01:56

Classification

Accident

Location

Haines, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

59.1601, -135.8606

Aircraft

Piper PA-32

Registration

N2181Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gustavus → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

Unk

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC96FA137

4 people were seriously injured.

the pilot's inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from terrain, while maneuvering to reverse the direction of flight. Factors associated with the accident were: the pilot's inadequate weather evaluation; and the terrain and weather, which resulted in a whiteout condition.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The air taxi pilot initiated flight over an extensive field of glaciers. The passengers described a gray, overcast sky, with a snow field below and snow on the surrounding mountains. They estimated the cruise altitude was between 100 and 500 feet above the glacier. The flight encountered a fog bank in the direction of travel; before reaching the fog, the pilot elected to turn around. During the turn, the airplane descended and collided with the glacier. Postaccident inspection disclosed no evidence of any preexisting mechanical anomaly with the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.