# Accident 20250110000059A: Piper PA-31-350, Fairbanks, AK, January 10, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 10, 2025, 12:55 local time
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Airport: Fairbanks International.
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Taxi
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: WVBA
- Location: 64.8134° N, 147.8532° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8134&lon=-147.8532&mi=10
- Aircraft: N59826, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N59826) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-31-350 (registry code 7103110, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350
- People aboard: 9
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 12,034 total, 7,017 in this make and model, 81 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC25LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA016) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250110000059A

## Narrative

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

THE AUTOMATED GATE BETWEEN RUNWAYS WAS OPEN DUE TO AN AIRCRAFT THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY PASSED THROUGH IT. THE PILOT OF THE AIRCRAFT THAT IMPACTED THE GATE ATTEMPTED TO KEEP THE GATE OPEN BY KEYING THE MICROPHONE THREE TIMES INSTEAD OF THE REQUIRED FIVE TIMES WHICH KEEPS THE GATE OPEN IF THE GATE IS OPEN AND NOT IN MOTION. THE PILOT FOUCUSED ON SNOW REMOVAL EQUIPMENT BEYOND THE GATE AS HE WAS TAXIING AND DID NOT NOTICE THE GATE WAS CLOSING. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE CLOSING GATE WITH BOTH WINGS.

## 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 ANC25LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA016), Jan 10, 2025: Piper PA-31-350 (N59826), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to recognize that an automated taxiway gate was closing, and the pilot’s failure stop for the closing gate.

## Other reports on N59826 (1)

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

- [Incident 19980612030439I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980612030439I), Jun 12, 1998: Piper PA31350 (N59826), Burbank, CA, Minor damage. Aircraft enroute lgb to mmh. Lost power #2 engine. Diverted to bur. Declared emergency, made landing without incident. Engine inspection revealed damge to…

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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