Piper PA-31-350 accident near Barrow, Alaska, July 4, 1986
On July 4, 1986 at about 4:25 am local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N4109E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Barrow, Alaska. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- July 4, 1986 · about 4:25 am local time
- Place
- Barrow, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N4109E · no longer on the register · serial 318353003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THERE WERE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE ACFT BUT IT WAS DECIDED TO FLY IT BACK TO ANOTHER ARPT FOR REPAIRS. ENROUTE THE PLT SHUT DOWN THE RIGHT ENG BECAUSE OF AN OIL LEAK. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CROSSFEED FUEL, THE PLT ACCIDENTLY PUSHED THE LEFT ENG FIRE WALL FUEL SHUT OFF VALVE WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF PWR ON THE LEFT ENG. THE ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING THE FORCED LANDING ON ROUGH TUNDRA.
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: 1,750 hours in all; 86 in this make and model; 140 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 1,450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,090 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 1, 1986; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-J2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Point Lay AK at 10:50 pm
- Destination: BRW Barrow AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 19°F (-7°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 N4109E 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.