Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-32-260 near Chickaloon, AK — 2010-08-08

Final reportANC10LA071
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Date
2010-08-08
Location
Chickaloon, AK, USA
Aircraft
PIPER PA-32-260
Registration
N3432W
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, resulting in an in-flight collision with terrain.

NTSB narrative

The non-instrument-rated pilot stated that he departed the airport in visual flight rules conditions, with various cloud layers throughout the area. As he climbed toward the snowfields at the top of a glacier, the clouds rapidly filled in underneath and built up around the airplane as he attempted to climb above them. He could not maintain sight of the ground and entered instrument meteorological conditions. The airplane had slowed to about 70 knots and he was making a wings-level rudder turn when the airplane impacted the glacier. The pilot said there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane. He reported the wings and fuselage were damaged during the impact.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
VFR into IMC
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the climb when clouds filled in, maintaining VFR conditions.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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