Piper PA-31-350 accident near Goodnews, Alaska, May 23, 2004
On May 23, 2004, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N4105D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Goodnews, Alaska. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate weather evaluation which resulted in an in-flight encounter with severe turbulence, and his exceedence of the design stress limits resulting in overstress of the wings. A factor contributing to the accident was the presence of turbulence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 2004
- Place
- Goodnews, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N4105D · registry record · serial 31-8252027
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport certificated pilot departed a remote airport in a twin-engine airplane. The airport is located on the coast of the Bering Sea, and has an area of low hills that are northwest of the airport. The pilot said the wind conditions were about 070 degrees magnetic at 25 knots, with gusts to 30 knots. After departure, the pilot reported that he initially climbed the airplane to about 1,200 feet, but as he approached the area of low hills, he descended to about 700 feet. At an indicated airspeed of about 185 knots, the pilot said that the airplane encountered severe turbulence for about 30 seconds, during which his radio headset was dislodged. Upon arrival at his destination, the pilot informed the director of maintenance that during the flight, the airplane encountered turbulence and appeared to have received damage to the wings. The director of maintenance reported that the airplane received structural damage that consisted of wrinkling and rippling of both of the upper wing surfaces, extending about 8 feet outboard from each engine nacelle. In addition, the elevator had wrinkling that extended about 6 inches inboard from each of the outboard hinge attach points. The closest official weather observation station is located about 32 nautical miles south of the accident site. An automated weather observation system (AWOS) was reporting in part: Wind, 110 degrees (true) at 17 knots, gusts to 27 knots; visibility, 7 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 1,200 feet overcast.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 12,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,446 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 19, 2004; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,070 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GNU Goodnews AK at 7:00 pm
- Destination: PABE Bethel AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 25 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N4105D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.