# NTSB ANC07LA001: Piper PA-32-260, N996PK, Port Alsworth, AK, October 9, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 9, 2006, 10:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Port Alsworth, AK - Coordinates: 60.183334, -154.316665 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.1833&lon=-154.3167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor, 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 64658 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC07LA001 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64658/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07LA001 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of control while maneuvering, and an in-flight collision with tree covered terrain. Factors associated with the accident are the pilot's inadequate evaluation of weather conditions, downdrafts, and mountainous/hilly terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The certificated commercial pilot was departing on a cross-country other work use flight operated under Title 14, CFR Part 91, with a six passengers. Shortly after a takeoff to the north, the flight encountered moderate, sometimes severe turbulence, and the pilot elected to return to the departure airport by making a right turn, towards an area of mountainous terrain. During the turn, the wind increased significantly out of the northeast, and a series of strong downdrafts and associated windshear, pushed the airplane into the tree-covered terrain. During the impact, the left wing was severed from the fuselage, and the airplane pivoted 180 degrees, coming to rest in a nose high position. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot said that there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On October 9, 2006, about 1030 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Piper PA-32-260 airplane, N996PK, sustained substantial damage when it impacted tree-covered terrain about 1 mile northeast of Port Alsworth, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country other work use flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The accident pilot owned the airplane. Of the seven people on board, the certificated commercial pilot and three passengers sustained no injuries, two passengers sustained serious injuries, and one passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions were reported in the area at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Port Alsworth about 1015, and the destination was the Egegik Airport, Egegik, Alaska. During telephone conversations with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on October 9 and 10, the pilot, an employee of the Tanalian Bible Camp, reported that he was transporting camp guests back to the community of Egegik at the conclusion of 3-day conference in Port Alsworth. He said that shortly after takeoff from Runway 5L, the flight encountered moderate, sometimes severe turbulence, and he elected to return to Port Alsworth by making a right turn, towards an area of mountainous terrain. During the turn, the wind increased significantly out of the northeast, and a series of strong downdrafts and associated windshear, pushed the airplane into the tree-covered terrain. During the impact, the left wing was severed from the fuselage, and the airplane pivoted 180 degrees, coming to rest in a nose high position. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot said that there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N996PK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N996PK-2008-02-20), registration cancelled 2008-02-20, S/N 32-168, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-168 - Airframe hours: 5685.3 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mark K. McGee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2005, 109.5 hours before - Departed: TPO, PORT ALSWORTH, AK - Destination: EII, Egegik, AK - Airport: TPO, Port Alsworth, runway 5L, 3,000 × 100 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 1,809 total, 223 in this make and model, 1,738 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 16 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 28.94 inHg - Observed at: PALJ, 1 nm away ## 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 20061009029029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061009029029A), Oct 9, 2006: Piper PA32260, Port Alsworth, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot wrote in his post accident statement that shortly after takeoff from runway 5L, his flight encountered moderate, sometimes severe turbulence.… ## Other investigations on N996PK (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 FTW69F0247](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW69F0247), Oct 5, 1968: Piper PA-32 (N996PK), Littlefield, TX, 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.