Piper PA-32 accident near Koliganek, Alaska, April 1, 2008
On April 1, 2008 at about 11:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-32, registered N8327S, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Koliganek, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's VFR flight into adverse weather conditions that resulted in a collision with snow-covered terrain during a turn to reverse direction. Factors contributing to the accident were low ceilings, flat lighting conditions, and the snow-covered terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 2008 · about 11:40 pm local time
- Place
- Koliganek, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32 · all PA-32s on the register
- Registration
- N8327S · no longer on the register · serial 32-8106039
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was in cruise flight about 700 feet agl over near featureless snow-covered terrain when he encounter lowering ceilings. He described the weather conditions as rapidly deteriorating. He began a turn to reverse direction, and the airplane collided with terrain. His destination, about 10 miles away, was reporting a visibility of 2 miles in mist, and a ceiling of 400 feet broken. The ceiling was variable between 200 to 900 feet. A low ceiling and snow-covered terrain likely produced flat lighting conditions, making visual reference to terrain, and determining height above the ground difficult.
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
What happened, in order
- VFR encounter with IMC during enroute (cruise)
- Loss of visual reference during maneuvering defining event
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during maneuvering
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Flat light › Effect on personnel
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Snowy/icy › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Low visibility › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,669 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 2,440 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 24, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,026 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 8, 2008; 84 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540K (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Peninsula Airways Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: PADL Dillingham AK at 6:10 pm
- Destination: PAJZ Koliganek AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 400 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.67 inHg
- Observation at 6:40 pm from PAJZ, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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 N8327S 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.