# Accident 20190321014979A: Piper PA-32R-300, Atmautluak, AK, March 21, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 21, 2019, 09:42 local time
- Place: Atmautluak, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Taxi
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: T72A
- Location: 60.8639° N, 162.2739° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8639&lon=-162.2739&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5544F, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5544F) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-300 (registry code 7103213, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D (registry code 41598, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-k1g5d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300
- Reported engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,183 total, 458 in this make and model, 250 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA19CA174](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA174) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190321014979A

## Narrative

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

AIRMAN WAS BACK TAXING A PA-32R-300 ON  RUNWAY 33 AT ATMAUTLUAK AIRPORT IN ALASKA. THE AIRMAN HIT A POT HOLE THAT WAS COVERED WITH SNOW. ACCORDING TO THE AIRMAN THIS CAUSED THE RIGHT TIRE TO SINK INTO THE HOLE AND INDUCED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING. THE METAL SKIN AFT OF THE WING SPAR WAS WRINKLED AND THE WING ROOT WAS SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE. HYDRAULIC FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE RIGHT BRAKE. THE AIRMAN STOPPED THE AIRPLANE AND AFTER INSPECTING THE AIRPLANE CALLED DISPATCH AND THE CHIEF PILOT TO NOTIFY THEM OF THE SITUATION.

## 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 GAA19CA174](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA174), Mar 21, 2019: Piper PA32R (N5544F), Atmautluak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The airplane's encounter with a snow-covered pothole during taxi.

## Other reports on N5544F (1)

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

- [Accident 19780826025079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780826025079A), Aug 26, 1978: Piper PA32RT300 (N5544F), Timberon, NM, Substantial damage. Wt & bal info not available. Da approx 10700FT.

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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