# NTSB ANC13CA023: Piper PA-31-350, N15PR, Dutch Harbor, AK, February 16, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 16, 2013, 17:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Dutch Harbor, AK - Coordinates: 53.892776, -166.540283 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=53.8928&lon=-166.5403&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 12, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 86236 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC13CA023 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86236/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86236 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13CA023 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to land in wind conditions that exceeded the airplane's demonstrated crosswind capability, which resulted in a loss of airplane control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft capability: maximum crosswind component](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061015): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061015/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061015/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure; cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; 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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); 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: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot departed on a visual flight rules cross-country flight in a twin-engine airplane with two passengers aboard. He reported that during the flight the weather began changing and he arrived at the destination airport in unforecast deteriorating weather conditions. Unable to circle to land into the wind, the pilot elected to land on runway 12 with a gusting quartering right tailwind. During the landing roll, a wind gust pushed the nose of the airplane to the right, and the airplane began to slide momentarily on an icy patch on the runway. While sliding sideways, the left main landing gear contacted bare pavement, which resulted in the collapse of the left main landing gear. As a result, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The wind at the airport before landing was reported to be out of 339 degrees at 26 knots, with gusts to 35 knots. According to the pilot operating handbook for the accident airplane, the maximum demonstrated crosswind component for the airplane is 20 knots, and a plot of the current wind conditions at the time of the accident showed that the crosswind component for the accident landing was 30 knots, 10 knots above the maximum demonstrated component. No preaccident mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation were reported. ## Factual narrative The airline transport pilot departed on a visual flight rules cross-country flight, in a twin-engine airplane, with two passengers aboard. During the flight, he reported that the weather began changing, and he arrived at the destination airport in deteriorating weather conditions. Unable to circle to land into the wind, he elected to land on runway 12 in gusting wind conditions, requiring a correction for a quartering right tailwind. During the landing roll, a wind gust pushed the nose of the airplane to the right, and the airplane began to slide momentary on an icy patch on the runway. While sliding sideways, the left main landing gear then contacted bare pavement, which loaded the left main landing gear strut, resulting in the collapse of the left main landing gear. As a result, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. Winds at the airport prior to landing were reported as 339 degrees magnetic at 26 knots, with gusts to 35 knots. According to the pilot operating handbook for the accident airplane, the maximum demonstrated crosswind component for the airplane is 20 knots, and a plot of the current wind conditions at the time of the accident showed that the crosswind component for the accident landing was 30 knots, 10 knots above the maximum demonstrated component. No preaccident mechanical anomalies were reported. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N15PR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15PR-2018-02-08), registration cancelled 2018-02-08, S/N 31-8352011, built 1983 (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: 31-8352011 - Airframe hours: 15247 - Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540 SER 350 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING TI0-540 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Grant Aviation Inc, doing business as Grant Aviation - Registered owner: Limbo LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, February 8, 2013 - Departed: PAUT, Akutan, AK - Destination: PADU, Dutch Harbor, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: PADU, Unalaska, runway 12, 3,900 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 24, 2013; seat: left; flight hours: 6,007 total, 489 in this make and model, 5,843 as pilot in command, 139 in the last 90 days, 41 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 339° at 26 knots, gusting 35 - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft overcast - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.54 inHg ## 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 20130216002649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130216002649A), Feb 16, 2013: Piper PA-31-350, Dutch Harbor, AK, Substantial damage. When the pilot departed Dutch for akun the runway was wet and the weather was improving. When he returned 45 minutes later, the temperature had dropped below… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 12, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86236. 246 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 140 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389521&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - PA 31 Xwing Component Chart (item 2, .PDF, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389522&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=PA%2031%20Xwing%20Component%20Chart-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.