Piper PA-32-301 accident near Hoonah, Alaska, August 2, 2012
On August 2, 2012 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-301, registered N8200M, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (descent) near Hoonah, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees and terrain while in cruise flight in marginal visual meteorological conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 2012 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hoonah, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-301 · all PA-32-301s on the register
- Registration
- N8200M · no longer on the register · serial 32-8006048
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The operator reported that during the flight, which traversed areas of remote inland fjords, coastal waterways, and steep, mountainous, tree-covered terrain, contact with the airplane was lost. A search located the airplane's fragmented wreckage in a densely wooded area along the airplane's route. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal evidence of any preimpact malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the point of departure, with areas of marginal visual conditions and mountain obscuration in areas along the anticipated route of flight. The airplane was equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) avionics package. A review of archived track data showed that, after crossing the north end of an island, the airplane began a shallow descent while approaching a peninsula with rising mountainous terrain ahead. No unusual or extreme deviations of altitude, speed, or course heading were recorded by ADS-B. Given the reported weather conditions, the lack of mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation, and the lack of maneuvering by the pilot, it is likely the pilot flew into marginal visual meteorological conditions and subsequently collided with mountainous tree-covered terrain.
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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute (descent) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › (general) › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Low ceiling › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,708 hours in all; 175 in this make and model; 175 in the last 90 days; 175 in the last 30 days; 2,447 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 20, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,529 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 29, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Excursions LLC
The flight
- Departed from: PAJN Juneau AK at 10:30 am
- Destination: PAGS Gustavus AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,300 ft; a few clouds at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 am from PAOH, 16 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 N8200M 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.