Piper PA-31 accident near Valdez, Alaska, June 25, 1995
On June 25, 1995 at about 11:57 pm local time, a Piper PA-31, registered N62851, was destroyed in an accident near Valdez, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE PUBLISHED IFR (MISSED APPROACH) PROCEDURE AND ASSURE ADEQUATE ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE FROM MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 1995 · about 11:57 pm local time
- Place
- Valdez, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31 · all PA-31s on the register
- Registration
- N62851 · no longer on the register · serial 31-7612085
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT RECEIVED AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH CLEARANCE TO A NONTOWER AIRPORT SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. WEATHER CONDITIONS ON THE GROUND WERE VFR, AND THE PILOT DESCENDED THROUGH AN OVERCAST. THE APPROACH ENVIRONMENT WAS NOT SERVICED BY ANY ATC RADAR FACILITY. THE PILOT DECLARED A MISSED APPROACH TO THE APPROPRIATE FAA FLIGHT SERVICE STATION, AND WAS ADVISED TO CONTACT ARTCC. ARTCC NEVER RECEIVED A RADIO TRANSMISSION FROM THE PILOT. THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES BEYOND THE AIRPORT, SLIGHTLY TO THE NORTH OF THE EXTENDED RUNWAY CENTERLINE. MISSED APPROACH PROCEDURES WERE FOR AN IMMEDIATE CLIMB, AND THEN A CLIMBING RIGHT TURN TO REVERSE DIRECTION AWAY FROM THE AIRPORT. THE MISSED APPROACH SEGMENT BEGAN 5.2 DME MILES PRIOR TO THE AIRPORT. MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE (MDA) FOR THE APPROACH WAS 4320' MSL (4200' ABOVE THE RUNWAY ELEVATION); IMPACT WITH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN OCCURRED AT ABOUT THE SAME ALTITUDE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,800 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 1995
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HOM Homer AK at 5:45 pm
- Destination: VDZ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 11 knots
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 am from VDZ, 6 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.