# NTSB ANC11LA006: Piper PA-31-350, N45052, Saint Michael, AK, December 22, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 22, 2010, 09:50 local (13:50 UTC) - Place: Saint Michael, AK - Coordinates: 63.47068, -162.110473 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.4707&lon=-162.1105&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 26, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO-01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 78098 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11LA006 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78098/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78098 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11LA006 ## Probable cause The loss of directional control during landing due to a flat nose wheel tire, resulting in a runway excursion and collision with trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [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 pilot said prior to landing that he extended the landing gear, and saw the nose wheel extended in a mirror on the engine nacelle. He said the nose tire appeared normal, but when it contacted the runway, he immediately knew it was flat. He said full opposite rudder and brake did not keep the airplane on the runway, and it rolled down an embankment. During the runway excursion the left wing spar was damaged. ## Factual narrative On December 22, 2010, about 0950 Alaska standard time, a Piper PA-31-350 airplane, N45052, sustained substantial damage during landing at the Saint Michael Airport, Saint Michael, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by Bering Air Inc., Nome, Alaska, as a visual flight rules(VFR) passenger flight under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 135, when the accident occurred. The commercial pilot and the sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following was in effect. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on January 4, 2011, the director of operations for the operator said the airplane landed at the airport with a flat nose wheel tire. He said the pilot was unable to control the airplane's direction, and the airplane left the runway surface down a steep bank. He said during the runway excursion the airplane received substantial damage to the left wing spar. In a written statement dated January 13, 2011, the pilot reiterated what he had told the director of operations. He further reported that prior to touch down, he saw the nose tire in a mirror, and it appeared to be inflated. He wrote that as the airplane slowed and the nose wheel touched it was apparent that there was a problem. He said full opposite rudder and brake did not keep the airplane on the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N45052](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N45052), registered now, S/N 31-8152063, built 1980 (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: 31-8152063 - Airframe hours: 28163 - Engines: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING TIO-540 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Bering Air Inc, doing business as Bering Air Inc. - Registered owner: Bering Air Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 8, 2010 - Departed: PAOM, Nome, AK - Destination: PAMK, Saint Michael, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: PAMK, Saint Michael, runway 33, 1,860 × 55 ft, snow ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 10, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 8,403 total, 916 in this make and model, 4,778 as pilot in command, 156 in the last 90 days, 62 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 19 °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 20101222055489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101222055489A), Dec 22, 2010: Piper PA-31-350, St. Michael, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot landed on snow covered runway. Nose wheel tire went flat and directional control of aircraft was lost. Aircraft departed runway side and turned… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 22, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78098. 824 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 824 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40343464&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.