# NTSB ANC09LA025: Piper PA-31-350, N4112K, Buckland, AK, March 14, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 14, 2009, 12:52 local (20:52 UTC) - Place: Buckland, AK - Coordinates: 65.981391, -161.149169 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.9814&lon=-161.1492&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 28, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 73514 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09LA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73514/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09LA025 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to abort the landing while landing on a snow/ice-covered runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was on a cargo flight when he landed on the snow-covered runway and, upon touching down, he noticed the braking action was nil. He said that about 500 feet from the departure end of the runway he realized that stopping was going to be a problem, but he elected not to abort the landing. The airplane slid off the end of the runway and struck a snowbank, causing structural damage to the left wing. He said that he had not received any reports about braking action for the airport that day, but that he had landed there on the previous day and that the condition of the runway then was acceptable. According to the pilot, there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. After the accident he examined the runway surface and determined that it was light snow over ice. The Federal Aviation Administration Flight Information Supplement, Alaska, Buckland Airport, under airport remarks, says, in part: "Unattended. Runway condition not monitored, recommend visual inspection prior to landing." ## Factual narrative On March 14, 2009, about 1252 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-31-350 airplane, N4112K, sustained substantial damage during landing at the Buckland Airport, Buckland, Alaska. The airplane was operated by Frontier Flying Service, Anchorage, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR), cross-country cargo flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135 when the accident occurred. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight departed Kotzebue, Alaska about 1215. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on March 24, the pilot said he had not received any braking action reports about the destination airport, which was unattended. He said he had landed there on the previous day, and that the condition of the runway was acceptable. The pilot said during the accident landing, when he touched down the braking action was nil. He said he realized about 500 feet from the departure end of the runway that stopping was going to be a problem, but he elected not to abort the landing. He said the airplane slid off the end of the runway, and struck a snowbank. The left wing sustained structural damage when it struck the snowbank. The pilot stated there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. After the accident he examined the runway surface, and determined that it was light snow over ice. He said he believed the sun had melted a layer of snow, which had refrozen into a layer of ice. The FAA Flight Information Supplement, Alaska, Buckland Airport, under airport remarks, says, in part: "Unattended. Runway condition not monitored, recommend visual inspection prior to landing." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4112K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4112K), registered now, S/N 31-8353006, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350 - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (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: 31-8353006 - Airframe hours: 25406 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming TIO-540 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Frontier Flying Service, doing business as Frontier Flying Service - Registered owner: Icecap LLC Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, March 2, 2009 - Departed: OTZ, Kotzebue, AK - Destination: PABL, Buckland, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: PABL, Buckland, runway 11, 3,200 × 75 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 26, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total, 900 in this make and model, 2,400 as pilot in command, 127 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 10 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft overcast - Temperature: -20 °F, dew point -24 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PABL ## 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 20090314046849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090314046849A), Mar 14, 2009: Piper PA-31-350, Buckland, AK, Substantial damage. Ptrs number: AL01200901461.aircraft landed long, 1,000 feet down the 3,200 foot runway due to a 10 knot tail wind. Runway was covered with ice, and the pilot… ## Other investigations on N4112K (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 ANC20LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20LA013), Jan 12, 2020: Piper PA31 (N4112K), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The improper installation of a hydraulic line at the right main landing gear (MLG) unlock actuator, which resulted in a total loss of system hydraulic pressure and failure of the landing gear to… - [NTSB OPS11IA653](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OPS11IA653), Jun 14, 2011: Piper PA-31-350 (N4112K), Fairbanks, AK, incident, no damage. Probable cause: Inadequate air traffic control actions that failed to establish and maintain required separation between the two airplanes. Contributing to the incident was inexperience on the part of the local… 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.