# NTSB ANC00LA022: Piper PA-32-301, N8004N, Ekuk, AK, January 26, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 26, 2000, 15:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Ekuk, AK - Coordinates: 55.919944, -159.489974 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.9199&lon=-159.4900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 48710 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA022 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48710/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA022 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable runway for landing. Factors associated with the accident were the inadequate runway maintenance by the runway maintenance personnel, snow berms, and insufficient runway condition information disseminated by the company dispatcher. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - berm (contributing factor) - runway maintenance - inadequate, airport personnel (contributing factor) - information insufficient, dispatcher (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was landing on a privately maintained, 1,200 feet long, snow-covered runway. The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge that his flight scheduler told him the village agent had said the runway was plowed, graded, and open. He indicated that he made a low pass to inspect the runway, and it appeared open. During the landing roll, the left wing struck a snow berm and sustained substantial damage. The runway had been plowed about 1,000 feet long, and about 40 feet wide. The pilot indicated the berms on the side of the runway were about 6 feet high, and not visible from the air. The tips of the airplane's wings were about 4 feet high. The Alaska Supplement contains the statement for the airport that the 'runways are not maintained during winter months.' ## Factual narrative On January 26, 2000, at 1515 Alaska standard time, a Piper PA-32-301 airplane, N8004N, sustained substantial damage when it contacted a snow berm during landing on runway 01 at the Ekuk Airport, Ekuk, Alaska. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. The flight was operated by Peninsula Airways, Inc., of Anchorage, Alaska, under 14 CFR Part 135 as a cargo flight. The flight originated at 1505 from Clarks Point, Alaska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a company VFR flight plan was in effect. During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) on January 27, the pilot stated that the company flight scheduler told him the runway had been plowed, graded, and was open. The pilot related that the runway information was received from the village agent in Ekuk. The pilot said he made a low pass to inspect the runway, and it appeared open. He indicated the 1,200 feet long runway was plowed about 1,000 feet long, and about 40 feet wide, with the width varying. The pilot said that outside of the plowed area, there were six feet high snow berms. The airplane's wingtips were four feet high. The pilot stated the berms were "high enough for a Cessna 207, not quite high enough for Cherokee wings, and not visible from the air." The pilot told the IIC that during the landing roll, the left wing contacted a snow berm. No record was found of the pilot receiving a weather brief from the FAA Flight Service Station, or from commercial DUATS vendors. No Notices to Airmen (NOTAMS) were issued for runway conditions at Ekuk. Ekuk is a privately maintained runway, and is not supported by the State of Alaska. The Alaska Supplement contains a statement for the Ekuk Airport that "runways are not maintained during winter months." Inspection of the airplane by an FAA airworthiness inspector on February 2, revealed substantial damage to the left wing leading edge, and several leading edge ribs. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8004N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8004N), registered now, S/N 32-8206014, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32-301 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-301](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-301) (registry code 7103207) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-8206014 - Airframe hours: 6619 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Peninsula Airways, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, January 8, 2000, 36 hours before - Departed: CLP, CLARKS POINT, AK - Destination: KKU - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: KKU, Ekuk, runway 1, 1,200 × ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,024 total, 800 in this make and model, 2,622 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 56 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 15 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,400 ft broken - Temperature: 7 °F - Altimeter: 28.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000126042089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000126042089A), Jan 26, 2000: Piper PA32301, Ekuk, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On January 26, 2000 a Piper PA-32-301, N8004N, registered to penninsula airways, 6100 Boeing ave., anchorage, AK 99502 and piloted by daniel l. green was… 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. --- 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.