Piper PA-28-181 accident near Northway, Alaska, August 21, 1994
On August 21, 1994 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N31670, was substantially damaged in an accident near Northway, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE EVALUATION OF THE WEATHER AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL LOOKOUT DURING THE MANEUVER. FACTORS WERE THE LOW CEILINGS AND OBSCURATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 1994 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Northway, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N31670 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7890474
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS TOLD DURING THE WEATHER BRIEFING THAT THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WOULD BE MARGINAL ALL DAY. DURING THE FLIGHT HE ENCOUNTERED INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE COURSE AND CLIMB AND TRANSITION TO INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS NOT WATCHING OUTSIDE OF THE AIRPLANE WHILE MAKING HIS TURN AND ATTEMPTING TO CLIMB. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE TREETOPS AT 5300 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,384 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,764 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 6, 1994; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JNU Juneau AK at 1:00 pm
- Destination: CZN Chisana AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
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.
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.