Piper PA-32-301 N8200M

Summary

On 2 August 2012 at about 16:30 local time, a Piper PA-32-301 registered N8200M, operated by Air Excursions LLC, was involved in an accident near Hoonah, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 August 2012 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Hoonah, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

58.2592, -135.1197

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-301

Registration

N8200M

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Air Excursions LLC

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Juneau → Gustavus

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC12FA083

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees and terrain while in cruise flight in marginal visual meteorological conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The operator reported that during the flight, which traversed areas of remote inland fjords, coastal waterways, and steep, mountainous, tree-covered terrain, contact with the airplane was lost. A search located the airplane's fragmented wreckage in a densely wooded area along the airplane's route. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal evidence of any preimpact malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the point of departure, with areas of marginal visual conditions and mountain obscuration in areas along the anticipated route of flight. The airplane was equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) avionics package. A review of archived track data showed that, after crossing the north end of an island, the airplane began a shallow descent while approaching a peninsula with rising mountainous terrain ahead. No unusual or extreme deviations of altitude, speed, or course heading were recorded by ADS-B. Given the reported weather conditions, the lack of mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation, and the lack of maneuvering by the pilot, it is likely the pilot flew into marginal visual meteorological conditions and subsequently collided with mountainous tree-covered terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.