Nunapitchuk Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Nunapitchuk, Alaska
Friday, December 31, 1982 12:00 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT WAS TAKING OFF FROM A FROZEN SEAPLANE LANDING AREA WHEN IT STRUCK SEVERAL SNOW BANKS AND CRASHED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD SELECTED AN AREA OF ICE, ABOUT 1100 FT LONG, AND BEGAN TAKING OFF IN AN 8 KT CROSSWIND WITH 6 PASSENGERS ON BOARD. REPORTEDLY, THE PLANE HAD TRAVELED ABOUT 900 FT AND HAD JUST ATTAINED FLYING SPEED WHEN IT HIT THE FIRST OF SEVERAL DRIFTS. AFTER CONTACTING ABOUT 4 DRIFTS, THE PLANE MUSHED (WHILE IN GROUND EFFECT) AND COLLIDED WITH BRUSH. THE COMPUTED TAKEOFF DISTANCE AT THE MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT WAS 1100 FT IN NO WIND CONDITIONS. THE GROSS WEIGHT FOR THIS TAKEOFF WAS NOT VERIFIED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/31/1982
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City NUNAPITCHUK
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport NUNAPITCHUK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 98Z
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
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 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
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 7
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 3378
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4246T
NTSB Number ANC83LA038
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
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32
Aircraft Serial Number 7240043
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 3300
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DENNIS GUNDER
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City BETHEL
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99559
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DELAIRE CHARTER SERVICE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 641
Operator City BETHEL
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99559
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code 98Z
Departure City NUNAPITCHUK
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City BETHEL
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
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 --