Piper PA-31T3, T1040 accident near Ninilchik, Alaska, December 13, 1991
On December 13, 1991 at about 11:07 pm local time, a Piper PA-31T3, T1040, registered N307SC, was destroyed in an accident near Ninilchik, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
UNDETERMINED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 13, 1991 · about 11:07 pm local time
- Place
- Ninilchik, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31T3, T1040 PA-31T3, T · all PA-31T3, T1040s on the register
- Registration
- N307SC · registry record · serial 8257009
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT WAS LEVEL AT 10,000 FEET MSL IN IMC CONDITIONS WHEN THE CONTROLLER NOTICED THE AIRPLANE TAKE A SHARP RIGHT TURN AND DESCEND RAPIDLY. ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE FLIGHT WERE NEGATIVE. EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SHOWED ALL THE MAJOR COMPONENTS PRESENT, HOWEVER, IMPACT DAMAGE PRECLUDED ANY FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY CHECK. THE ENGINES COULD NOT BE RECOVERED FROM THE IMPACT CRATER. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS NOT ACCESSIBLE WITH SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,425 hours in all; 1,900 in this make and model; 144 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 7,177 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,745 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 30, 1991; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,000 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT-6A-11 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Southcentral Air, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: ADQ Kodiak AK at 10:15 pm
- Destination: ENA Kenai AK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 050° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from ENA, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.