Piper PA-32-301 N8257V

Summary

On 30 July 1989 at about 18:00 local time, a Piper PA-32-301 registered N8257V, operated by Skagway Air Service, was involved in an accident near Haines, Alaska, United States. 5 people were on board and 2 died, 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 July 1989 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Haines, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

59.1595, -135.8596

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-301

Registration

N8257V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Skagway Air Service

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Skagway → Juneau

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA89FA143

2 people died.

IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC). THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TERRAIN WERE RELATED FACTORS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE ON A VFR FLT FROM SKAGWAY TO JUNEAU, AK, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED OBSCURING WX CONDITIONS AND REVERSED COURSE. EN ROUTE BACK TO SKAGWAY, HE ENCOUNTERED LOW CEILING, RAIN AND FOG. HE DESCENDED TO FLY UNDER THE WX AND LOST VISUAL REFERENCE AT ABOUT 150 FT ABOVE A SALTWATER INLET. HE INITIATED A CLIMB IN IMC, BUT THE ACFT IMPACTED ON A STEEP, WOODED HILLSIDE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.