20230210001759A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-32-260 · Tok, AK · February 10, 2023

Date: February 10, 2023 · 17:00 local
Place: Tok, AK
Airport: Tok
Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N44782
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC23LA021
Reported as: Piper PA-32-260
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-540 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,200 total260 in this make and model10 in the last 90 days

N44782Registered now · Piper PA-32-260S/N 32-7500002 · Built 1974 Airframe modelPiper PA-32-260 Engine modelLycoming 0-540 seriesReciprocating

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.

During the approach at the Tok, Alaska airport runway 7, the pilot decided to practice a short field landing. After pulling the power back, the airspeed dropped approximately 10 knots below the reccomended approach speed during a practice short field landing, resulting in a higher than antisipated sink rate. The pilot applied power to correct the situation, but not enough. The aircraft settled into 3 feet of snow approximately 200 feet from the end of the runway resulting in the nose gear collapsing rearward at approximately 60 feet from the runway. The pilot and his passenger were unharmed.

As the FAA filed it

DURING THE APPROACH AT THE TOK, ALASKA AIRPORT RUNWAY 7, THE PILOT DECIDED TO PRACTICE A SHORT FIELD LANDING. AFTER PULLING THE POWER BACK, THE AIRSPEED DROPPED APPROXIMATELY 10 KNOTS BELOW THE RECCOMENDED APPROACH SPEED DURING A PRACTICE SHORT FIELD LANDING, RESULTING IN A HIGHER THAN ANTISIPATED SINK RATE. THE PILOT APPLIED POWER TO CORRECT THE SITUATION, BUT NOT ENOUGH. THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED INTO 3 FEET OF SNOW APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY RESULTING IN THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSING REARWARD AT APPROXIMATELY 60 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER WERE UNHARMED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC23LA021Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportTok, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain a proper approach glide path, which resulted in a hard landing, short of his anticipated touchdown point.Feb 11, 2023 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N44782 · 2

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

Incident 20040620013629IRoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Minneapolis, MN(-23) Aircraft landed on runway 14L and veered off the runway into the north side of the grass striking a runway light and causing minor damage to the left wing flap.Jun 20, 2004 · Minor damage Incident 20000915029419ILevel Off Touchdown · Minneapolis, MN(-23)Aircraft struck a deer during landing roll out. Only damage reported was to the left wheel landing gear faring, wheel pant attachment plate, and the left fuel tank drain cock. No injuries reported for the pilot who was the sole occupant. Pilot was sent…Sep 15, 2000 · Minor damage