# Accident 20000209004499A: Piper PA31T3, Wales, AK, February 9, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 9, 2000, 12:15 local time
- Place: Wales, AK
- Airport: Wales Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: CSAA
- Location: 65.6108° N, 168.0896° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.6108&lon=-168.0896&mi=10
- Aircraft: N110JK, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N110JK-2001-06-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-31T3 (registry code 7103128, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31t3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA31T3
- Reported engine: PWA PT6A11
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,600 total, 195 in this make and model, 215 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC00LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA027) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000209004499A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING LANDING. (.4)THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT CERTIFICATED PILOT WAS LANDING A TWIN-ENGINE TURBOPROP AIRPLANE AT A REMOTE AIRPORT ON A SCHEDULED AIR TAXI FLIGHT.  RISING HILLY TERRAIN IS LOCATED EAST OF THE AIRPORT.  THE PILOT SAID THAT DURING THE APPROACH FOR LANDING, HE NOTICED THE AIRPORT WIND SOCK INDICATING A WIND FROM THE EAST ABOUT 25 KNOTS.  WHEN THE PILOT DESCENDED TO 500 FEET, ABOUT MID-BASE, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TURBULENCE AND AN INCREASED RATE OF DESCENT. HE ADDED ENGINE POWER TO ARREST THE DESCENT.  AS HE TURNED TOWARD THE RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED 3 TO 4 ROLLING OSCILLATIONS WITH A BANK ANGLE UP TO 90 DEGREES WHILE DESCENDING TOWARD THE RUNWAY.  ACCORDING TO A COMPANY MECHANIC WHO TRAVELED TO THE SCENE, IT APPEARED THAT THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE RUNWAY ABOUT 1,200 FEET FROM THE APPROACH END WITH THE LEFT WING AND LEFT ELEVATOR, WHILE YAWED ABOUT 45 DEGREES TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE.  THE AIRPLANE THEN SLID OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.  AFTER THE COLLISION, THE PILOT EVACUATED THE PASSENGERS, AND NOTICED THE AIRPORT WIND SOCK WAS INDICATING A TAILWIND.  THE AIRPORT/FACILITY DIRECTOR                  Y CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING IN THE AIRPORT REMARKS: 'UNATTENDED. EASTERLY WINDS MAY CAUSE SEVERE TURBULENCE IN VICINITY OF RUNWAY.'

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC00LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA027), Feb 9, 2000: Piper PA-31-T3 (N110JK), Wales, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather conditions, and his inadvertent flight into adverse weather conditions. Factors in the accident were terrain induced turbulence and a tailwind.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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