What happened
On July 2, 2023, a Piper PA-32-300, registration N1132Q, was operating as a non-scheduled passenger flight from Old Harbor Airport (OLH) to Kodiak, Alaska. The aircraft was carrying four passengers, baggage, and cargo.
During the flight, the pilot was navigating up a valley toward a mountain pass. The pilot reported a climb rate of 500 feet per minute with the engine maintaining 2,500 rpm and 25 inches of manifold pressure. Upon determining that the aircraft lacked the 200 feet of altitude necessary to clear a 950-foot mountain pass, the pilot attempted to maneuver the aircraft to the right side of the valley to prepare for a 180-degree left turn. During this maneuver, the aircraft stopped climbing and impacted terrain.
The aircraft struck two mountain spurs before coming to rest on a third spur at an elevation of approximately 750 feet. The impact resulted in 2 fatal and 3 serious injuries.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the engine revealed no abnormalities that would have prevented normal operation. The pilot and passengers reported no mechanical issues or changes in engine power prior to the impact.
An investigation into the aircraft's weight at takeoff estimated the gross weight to be 3,290 pounds, which was approximately 110 pounds below the maximum takeoff gross weight of 3,400 pounds. The weight breakdown included an empty weight of 1,850 pounds, 180 pounds of fuel, 970 pounds for the pilot and passengers, and 290 pounds of cargo and baggage.