# NTSB ANC12CA015: Piper PA-31-350, N9FW, Hughes, AK, December 15, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 15, 2011, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Hughes, AK - Coordinates: 66.039169, -154.281387 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.0392&lon=-154.2814&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 28, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Fairbanks FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82554 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12CA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82554/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82554 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA015 ## Probable cause The pilot did not clear the area surrounding the airplane prior to taxi, resulting in the airplane contacting a piece of baggage. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The operator reported that, after loading the airplane, the pilot started to taxi, and the left engine's propeller struck a piece of baggage that was left on the ramp after a prior flight. The propeller picked up the baggage and threw it onto the upper left side of the fuselage, resulting in substantial damage. ## Factual narrative The operator reported that after loading the twin-engine airplane, the pilot had started to taxi, when the left engine's propeller struck a piece of baggage on the ramp. The propeller picked up the baggage and threw it onto the upper left side of the fuselage, resulting in substantial damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9FW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9FW), registered now, S/N 31-7405468, built 1974 (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: 31-7405468 - Airframe hours: 18175 - Engines: LYCOMING LTIO-540 SER 350 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING TIO-540 SER 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Wright Air Service Inc - Registered owner: Wright Air Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 17, 2011, 35 hours before - Departed: FAI, Fairbanks, AK - Destination: HUS, Hughes, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: HUS, Hughes ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 7, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 26,600 total, 7,000 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 20 knots, gusting 30 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken ## 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 20111215028159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111215028159A), Dec 15, 2011: Piper PA-31-350, Hughes, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot stated after landing in Hughes, the villagers come out to the plane and everyone helps unload as usual. One suitcase was unintentionally left in front of… ## Other investigations on N9FW (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 ANC24LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA074), Aug 5, 2024: Piper PA31 (N9FW), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's continuation of an unstabilized approach and his failure to monitor the aircraft's altitude and airspeed during the approach, resulting in a loss of control. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 10, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82554. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 701 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40362822&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1. Top of fuselage. Photo provided by operator. (item 2, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40362882&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Top%20of%20fuselage.%20Photo%20provided%20by%20operator.-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.