# NTSB ANC10LA032: Piper PA-32-301, N8305H, King Cove, AK, April 26, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 26, 2010, 15:23 local (23:23 UTC) - Place: King Cove, AK - Coordinates: 66.980827, -160.429794 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.9808&lon=-160.4298&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 21, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 75868 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC10LA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75868/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75868 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10LA032 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate descent rate during gusty winds while landing, resulting in a hard landing and damage to the airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): 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) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome ## Analysis The airline transport pilot was on a passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The pilot said he was on short final for the destination runway and his airspeed was indicating 100 knots. The pilot reported that he encountered wind gusts/shear and his airspeed dropped to zero, and the airplane landed hard. He said the left main landing gear collapsed and the left wing struck the ground. According to the pilot, there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident, and that the left wing and fuselage received substantial damage during the accident. ## Factual narrative On April 26, 2010, about 1523 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-32-301 airplane, N8305H, sustained substantial damage when the landing gear collapsed during a hard landing at the King Cove Airport, King Cove, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by Peninsula Airways Inc., as Flight 421, a visual flight rules (VFR) scheduled commuter passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airline transport pilot and the four passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight departed Cold Bay, Alaska, about 1515. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on April 27, the pilot said he was on short final for runway 25, and his airspeed was indicating 100 knots. The pilot reported that he encountered wind gusts/shear and his airspeed dropped to zero, and the airplane landed hard. He said the left main landing gear collapsed. The pilot reported that he had landed at the airport earlier that day, and the conditions were windy but manageable. He said there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident, and that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8305H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8305H-2018-12-19), registration cancelled 2018-12-19, S/N 32-8106017, built 1980 (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: 32-8106017 - Airframe hours: 17868 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 SER 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Peninsula Airways Inc, doing business as PenAir - Registered owner: Peninsula Airways Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, April 25, 2010 - Departed: PACD, Cold Bay, AK - Destination: PAVC, King Cove, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: PAVC, King Cove, runway 25, 3,500 × 100 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 25, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 1,631 total, 353 in this make and model, 640 as pilot in command, 109 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 14 knots, gusting 43 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.48 inHg - Observed at: PAVC ## 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 20100426033089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100426033089A), Apr 26, 2010: Piper PA-32-301, King Cove, AK, Substantial damage. Most recent METAR information from ena fss for pavc, at 262256Z, included winds 25014G43KT. Above end of runway 25, approx. 500' AGL, lost airspeed, lost… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 16, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75868. 946 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 712 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333168&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Operator Notes (item 2, .PDF, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333169&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Operator%20Notes-Redacted.PDF - Weather Data (item 3, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333170&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Data-Master.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.