Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Funter Bay, Alaska 99850
Monday, May 25, 1992 12:40 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING AND RECEIVED AIRMET SIERRA WHICH STATED IFR CONDITIONS AND MOUNTAIN OBSCURATION FOR SOUTHEAST ALASKA. HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO FLY THROUGH FUNTER PASS TO GUSTAVUS WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED DETERIORATING WEATHER. HE BEGAN A TURN TO REVERSE DIRECTION AND HAD TO STOP THE TURN TO AVOID SOME EAGLES. THE AIRPLANE ENTERED AN OBSCURATION CLOSE TO A HILL AND HE STEEPENED HIS TURN AND ATTEMPTED TO STOP HIS DESCENT. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A TREE WITH THE LEFT WING, BUT CONTINUED TO FLY AND LANDED AT JUNEAU, ALASKA.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S ATTEMPTED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/25/1992
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1240
Event Time Zone --
Event City FUNTER BAY
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99850
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2784
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 25 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1304
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47569
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:54PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N15950
NTSB Number ANC92LA079
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32-300
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-300
Aircraft Serial Number 32-7340075
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 85
Airframe Hours 2800
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STEVE R. WILSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 16
Aircraft Owner City GUSTAVUS
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99826
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name STEVE R. WILSON
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 16
Operator City GUSTAVUS
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99826
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code JUN
Departure City JUNEAU
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1235
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GST
Destination City GUSTAVUS
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --