# NTSB ANC01LA053: Piper PA-32-300, N4089W, Chefornak, AK, May 3, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 3, 2001, 10:50 local (18:50 UTC) - Place: Chefornak, AK - Coordinates: 60.147499, -164.289993 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.1475&lon=-164.2900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 1, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 53192 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA053 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53192/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA053 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent stall/mush during the final phase of the landing approach. A factor associated with the accident is a crosswind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The commercial air taxi pilot related he was attempting to land on a gravel runway in a direct crosswind of approximately 15 knots. During the final approach to land, he said the airplane stalled, and landed hard. The airplane went off the side of the runway and received substantial damage. The pilot indicated there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On May 3, 2001, about 1050 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Piper PA-32-300 airplane, N4089W, operated under 14 CFR Part 135 as an on-demand cargo flight by Bellair, Inc., received substantial damage while landing at the Chefornak Airport, Chefornak, Alaska. The solo commercial-certificated pilot was not injured. The flight operated in visual meteorological conditions, and a VFR and company flight plan were in effect. The flight departed Bethel, Alaska, about 1000, en route to Chefornak. During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on May 3, the pilot of the accident airplane related that he departed Bethel with 1,000 pounds of U.S. mail for Chefornak. It was his intent to deposit the mail at Chefornak, and return to Bethel. He said the flight to Chefornak was uneventful. He elected to land on runway 34, and noted the surface wind was nearly a direct crosswind from the west, at 10-15 miles per hour. As he approached the landing threshold, he said his indicated airspeed was about 80 miles per hour, when the airplane suddenly stalled, landed hard, and bounced off the right side of the runway. The pilot said the airplane received substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. He also said there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4089W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4089W-2018-01-04), registration cancelled 2018-01-04, S/N 32-40145, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-40145 - Airframe hours: 7593 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Bellair, Inc. - Registered owner: Aero Lease of America, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 18, 2001, 60 hours before - Departed: BET, Bethel, AK - Destination: CFK, Cherfornak, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: CFK, Chefornak, runway 34, 2,500 × 25 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 17, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 3,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 2,700 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 15 knots, gusting 5 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 36 °F ## 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 20010503039779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010503039779A), May 3, 2001: Piper PA32300, Chefornak, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 3, 2001, about 1050 adt, a wheel equipped Piper PA-32-300, N4089W, sustained substantial damage while attempting a landing at Chefornak, Alaska.… ## Other investigations on N4089W (2) 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 WPR14LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA007), Oct 6, 2013: Piper PA32 - 300 (N4089W), Tinian Island, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain terrain clearance while maneuvering at low altitude in dark night conditions. - [NTSB ANC80DA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80DA092), Aug 14, 1980: Piper PA-32 (N4089W), Ekuk, AK, substantial damage 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.