# NTSB ANC09LA030: Piper PA-32-300, N43551, Nunapitchuk, AK, April 10, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 10, 2009, 10:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Nunapitchuk, AK - Coordinates: 60.906112, -162.440551 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.9061&lon=-162.4406&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA, Anchorage Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 73629 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09LA030 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73629/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73629 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09LA030 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed to avoid a stall during the landing approach. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: snow](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome ## Analysis The solo commercial pilot was en route to a rural airport on a Title 14, CFR Part 135 air taxi flight with a load of cargo. During an interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on April 10, the pilot stated that the flight was without incident until he began the approach to land. He indicated he had difficulty finding the runway in reduced visibility due to blowing snow. He stated he prematurely slowed the airplane in preparation for landing, as he thought he was closer to the runway than he was. He said that due to his low altitude and the poor visibility, he overshot his turn from left base to final, and while attempting to correct and realign the airplane with the runway, the stall warning horn came on, and the airplane stalled, striking the left wing on terrain west of the runway. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane, and that he should have paid more attention to his altitude and airspeed. ## Factual narrative On April 10, 2009, about 1045 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300 airplane, N43551, operated by JP Air, Bethel, Alaska, as an on-demand cargo flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain following a loss of control while on approach to the Nunapitchuk Airport, Nunapitchuk, Alaska. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions were reported in the general area, but the pilot stated that visibility was greatly reduced due to blowing snow. A company flight plan was in effect. The flight departed Bethel about 1030, en route to Nunapitchuk. During an interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on April 10, the pilot stated that he had approximately 770 pounds of mail aboard and the flight was without incident until he began the approach for runway 18 at Nunapitchuk. He indicated he had difficulty finding the runway in reduced visibility due to blowing snow. He stated he prematurely slowed the airplane in preparation for landing, as he thought he was closer to the runway than he was. He said that due to his low altitude and the poor visibility, he overshot his turn from left base to final, and while attempting to correct and realign the airplane with the runway, the stall warning horn came on, and the airplane stalled, striking the left wing on terrain west of the runway. The left wing separated from the fuselage, and the airplane slid down the runway a few hundred feet, before going off the east side. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane, and that he should have initiated a go-around instead of trying to salvage the landing. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43551](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43551-2017-03-24), registration cancelled 2017-03-24, S/N 32-7440133, built 1974 (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: 32-7440133 - Airframe hours: 9804 - Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: J P Air Service LLC - Registered owner: J P Air Service LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 21, 2009, 45 hours before - Departed: PABE, Bethel, AK - Destination: 16A, Nunapitchuk, AK - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: 16A, Nunapitchuk, runway 18, 2,420 × 70 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 28, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 3,178 total, 1,608 as pilot in command, 199 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 12 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Temperature: 32 °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 20090410025119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090410025119A), Apr 10, 2009: Piper PA-32-300, Nunapitchuk, AK, Substantial damage. Single pilot with only cargo departed bet. For 20 min. Flight with company provided wx. Briefing and w&b within c.g. limits. At midway point aircraft passed… ## Other investigations on N43551 (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 ANC01LA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA083), Jun 20, 2001: Piper PA-32-300 (N43551), Eek, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A malfunction of the engine fuel control due to an improper overhaul by other maintenance personnel, and subsequent loss of engine power during cruise flight. A factor in the accident was unsuitable… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 9, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73629. 674 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 674 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318573&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.