# Accident 20210319002169A: Beech A36, Port Alsworth, AK, March 19, 2021 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: March 19, 2021, 14:15 local time - Place: Port Alsworth, AK - Airport: Port Alsworth - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown - Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135) - Operator: HXXC - Location: 60.2043° N, 154.3189° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.2043&lon=-154.3189&mi=10 - Aircraft: N1820L, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1820L) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Beech A36 (registry code 1151604, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A36 - Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor - Pilot flight hours: 1,210 total - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC21LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA027) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210319002169A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. AFTER A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, AND OBTAINING A WEATHER BRIEFTING, THE PILOT TOOK OFF AT APPROXIMATELY 1 :15 PM FROM PAMR WITH THE DESTINATION BEING TPO. TAKEOFF, DEPARTURE, AND EN-ROUTE WERE AS PLANNED, AND UNEVENTFUL. UPON ENTERING LEFT DOWNWIND FOR RUNWAY 06 L AT TPO, THE PILOT IDENTIFIED THE TRESHOLD OF THE RUNWAY, AND PLANNED MY AIM POINT AND TOUCHDOWN POINT ACCORDINGLY. THIS WAS ONLY THE PILOT FLYING 2ND TIME LANDING AT PORT ALSWORTH, WHICH IS A RELATIVELY SHORT, SNOW-COVERED RUNWAY. PILOT'S PLAN WAS TO CLEAR THE TREES AT THE APPROACH END OF 06 L AND REDUCE POWER, AND LAND AS CLOSE TO THE THRESHOLD AS SAFELY PRACITCABLE. THE APPROACH FROM THE PILOT PERSPECTIVE LOOKED GREAT, AND WAS GOING ACCORDING TO PLAN. ON SHORT FINAL, THE MORE EXPERIENCED PILOT WHO WAS RIDING RECOMMENDED ADDING POWER, WHICH THE PILOT FLYING DID, BUT I ASSUMED THIS WAS SIMPLY TO "CUSHION" THE LANDING, NOT BECAUSE THE AIRCRAFT WERE SHORT OF THE PLOWED AREA OF RUNWAY, WHICH WAS NOT DISTINGUISHABLE OR MARKED. THE MAIN WHEELS TOUCHED DOWN SMOOTHLY AS THE STALL WARNING INDICATOR SOUNDED, AND THE NOSE GEAR CAME DOWN MORE FIRMLY THAN NORMAL. AFTER RUNNING THROUGH THE UNPLOWED SNOW FOR ABOUT 125 FEET THE NOSE GEAR CONTACTED THE SNOW BERM THAT HAD BEEN PLOWED ACROSS THE END OF THE PLOWED AREA RESULTING IN A COLLAPSE OF THE NOSE GEAR, AND SUBSEQUENT PROPELLER STRIKE. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A RELATIVELY SMOOTH STOP AT APPROXIMATELY 1415. ## 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 ANC21LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA027), Mar 20, 2021: Beech A36 (N1820L), Port Alsworth, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misidentification of the airport’s active runway, which resulted in an off runway landing and a collision with a snow berm. Contributing to the accident was the runway’s lack of… ## Other reports on N1820L (5) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 20170223004299I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170223004299I), Feb 23, 2017: Beech A36 (N1820L), Port Alsworth, AK, Minor damage. Right main gear collapsed on landing rollout. - [Accident 20130415006289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130415006289A), Apr 15, 2013: Beech A36 (N1820L), Port Alsworth, AK, Substantial damage. During landing rollout, the left main landing gear drag brace assembly failed resulting in gear collapse. The aircraft came to a stop with the left wing tip in… - [Accident 20001012041739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001012041739A), Oct 12, 2000: Beech A36 (N1820L), Nondalton, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On October 12, 2000, at about 1345 local time, a wheel equipped retractable gear, BE-36-A36 airplane, N1820L, sustained substantial damage during landing… - [Accident 19980925026659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980925026659A), Sep 25, 1998: Beech A36 (N1820L), New Stuyahok, AK, Substantial damage. (-23)The pilot stated that he heard a "beep-beep-beep" sound and thought the stall warning was malfunctioning. By the time he realized that it was the gear… - [Incident 19850801048659I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850801048659I), Aug 1, 1985: Beech A36 (N1820L), King Salmon, AK, Minor damage. Pilot raised gear instead of flaps on rollout. Nose gear collapsed. Squat switch prevented main gear from folding. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.