Piper PA-32 accident near Akiachak, Alaska, April 8, 1982
On April 8, 1982 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-32, registered N9304K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Akiachak, Alaska (Akiachak airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 1982 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Akiachak, Alaska · Akiachak · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32 · all PA-32s on the register
- Registration
- N9304K · no longer on the register · serial 7650076
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT BEGAN TAKING OFF ON A SOFT RUNWAY WITH A LEFT QUARTERING CROSSWIND. HE STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO GET ENOUGH SPEED ON THE SOFT MUD FOR A SAFE TAKEOFF. HE CUT THE POWER TO ABORT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY. THE PLANE CONTINUED OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY WHERE THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR BROKE THROUGH THIN ICE AND SEPARATED. THE RIGHT WING WAS DAMAGED AND BEGAN BURNING WHERE A NAVIGATION LIGHT HAD BROKEN AND CAUSED A SPARK. A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WAS USED TO STOP THE FLAMES, BUT THE FIRE STARTED AGAIN WHEN THE EXTINGUISHER WAS EXHAUSTED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 285 hours in all; 77 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,932 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 295 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-KIA5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: BET Bethel AK at 2:00 pm
- Destination: TOG Togiak AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 1,900 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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 N9304K 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.