# Accident 20021022031319A: Piper PA32300, Bethel, AK, October 22, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 22, 2002, 14:15 local time
- Place: Bethel, AK
- Airport: Bethel Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: FWRA
- Location: 60.7797° N, 161.8381° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7797&lon=-161.8381&mi=10
- Aircraft: N31657, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N31657) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-300 (registry code 7103212, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32300
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC03LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA005) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021022031319A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE TWO AIRPLANES INVOLVED IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE IN MOTION AND TAXIING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO EACH OTHER. BOTH AIRPLANES WERE TAXIING ON AN UNCONTROLLED RAMP. NEITHER PILOT WAS COMMUNICATING WITH ATC OR ONE ANOTHER. BOTH PILOTS FAILED TO EXERCISE APPROPRIATE VIGILANCE TO AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT, VEHICLES AND OBSTRUCTIONS WHILE TAXIING. AS THE PILOT OF N31657 TURNED INTO A PARKING SPOT, A GROUND COLLISION RESULTED. THE LEFT WING TIP OF N31657 MADE CONTACT WITH THE PROPELLER OF N76RL.

## 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 ANC03LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA005), Oct 22, 2002: Piper PA-32 (N31657), Bethel, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of both pilot's to maintain a visual outlook during taxi operations on the ramp.

## Other reports on N31657 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19850310011389I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850310011389I), Mar 10, 1985: Piper PA32300 (N31657), Rolla, MO. Propeller blade broke 8 inches from tip during go around. Landed downwind safely.

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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