Piper PA-32-260 accident near Red Devil, Alaska, August 14, 2002
On August 14, 2002, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N3853W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Red Devil, Alaska (Red Devil airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power for an undetermined reason during the initial climb after takeoff that resulted in a collision with trees. A contributing factor in the accident was rising terrain which was unsuitable for a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 2002
- Place
- Red Devil, Alaska · Red Devil · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N3853W · no longer on the register · serial 32-0794
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial certificated pilot reported that during the initial climb after takeoff, as he was making a crosswind to downwind turn, the engine began to run rough and lose power. The airplane was unable to maintain altitude and collided with trees along a ridgeline, about 1.5 miles from the departure airport. Rising terrain is located on either side of the airport's location in a river valley. Due to the remoteness of the area, a postaccident examination of the engine was not conducted.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,000 hours in all; 1,160 in this make and model; 159 in the last 90 days; 53 in the last 30 days; 18,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 28, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,529 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 18, 2001; 281 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RDV Red Devil AK at 7:00 pm
- Destination: SRV Stony River AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,750 ft by 74 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from PASV, 66 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.