Piper PA-32-260 accident near Naknek, Alaska, September 10, 1982
On September 10, 1982 at about 1:20 am local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N3884W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Naknek, Alaska (Naknek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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
- September 10, 1982 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Naknek, Alaska · Naknek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N3884W · no longer on the register · serial 32-830
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT THE POINT OF ROTATION THE ACFT STRUCK A LARGE PUDDLE OF WATER CAUSING A REDUCTION IN SPEED. THE ACFT CONTINUED DOWN THE RWY APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER 150 FT AT 5 FT AGL WHEN IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT FURTHER FLIGHT WAS IMPOSSIBLE. THE TAKEOFF WAS ABORTED & THE ACFT RAN OFF THE END OF THE RWY.
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
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5NK Naknek AK at 5:20 pm
- Destination: Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 1,700 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:13 pm from ANK, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.