Piper PA-32-300 accident near Quinhagak, Alaska, June 13, 1983
On June 13, 1983 at about 5:10 am local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N15400, was substantially damaged in an accident near Quinhagak, Alaska (Quinhagak airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 2 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
- June 13, 1983 · about 5:10 am local time
- Place
- Quinhagak, Alaska · Quinhagak · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N15400 · no longer on the register · serial 32-7340013
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT ABOUT 50-70 FT AGL THE ENG QUIT. THE ACFT LANDED ABOUT 1,500 FT OFF THE END OF THE RWY. THE PLT STATED THE ACFT HAD BEEN REFUELED FROM 50 GAL DRUMS IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE FLT. THE FUEL IN THE RIGHT TIP TANK CONTAINED ENOUGH WATER TO HAVE CAUSED ENG STOPPAGE. THE PLT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN HE REMOVED THE COVER FROM THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR VALVE IT CONTAINED A LARGE QUANTITY OF WATER. THE PLT STATED THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO OBTAIN THE PERMITS NECESSARY TO INSTALL UNDERGROUND FUEL STORAGE TANKS.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,782 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 1,738 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,660 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 6, 1983; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-KIA5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tri-City Air Service
The flight
- Destination: TOG Togiak AK
- Runway 4, 2,900 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft; not recorded at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N15400 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.