60.7922° N, 161.7558° WPlaced by OpenAirDocs: center of Bethel, AK, within about 6 miles.Open in the map
Date
April 9, 1987 · 09:15 local
Place
Bethel, AK
Airport
Bethel
Phase of flight
Forced/Precautionary Landing
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Operator
LAQO
Damage
Minor damage
Aircraft
N32850
Reported as
Piper PA32300
People aboard
3
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
1,700 total200 in this make and model200 in the last 90 days
From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
After takeoff the right side of the engine cowling broke loose. Pilots view obstructed. Returned, safe landing.
As the FAA filed it
AFTER TAKEOFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COWLING BROKE LOOSE. PILOTS VIEW OBSTRUCTED. RETURNED, SAFE LANDING.