# NTSB ANC24LA074: Piper PA31, N9FW, Fairbanks, AK, August 5, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 5, 2024, 11:58 local (19:58 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK · PAFA - Coordinates: 64.817822, -147.843 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8178&lon=-147.8430&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 194845 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC24LA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194845/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194845 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA074 ## 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. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, after entering the traffic pattern before landing, the local tower controller asked him if he could accept a short approach to the arriving runway to accommodate other arriving traffic, and the pilot accepted. As the pilot maneuvered the airplane from the base leg to final approach, he allowed the airplane to descend below the intended glidepath, and he inadvertently allowed the airplanes airspeed to decay. As the airplane passed over the runway threshold, it rolled to the left, and the left wing struck the runway. The pilot momentarily aborted the landing but landed the airplane on a gravel covered airstrip, which was straight ahead and a short distance away. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9FW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9FW), registered now, S/N 31-7405468, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA31 - 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 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 21863 - Engines: Lycoming LTIO 540 350 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming LTIO 540 350 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Warbelows Air Ventures - Registered owner: Wright Air Service, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, July 30, 2024 - Departed: PACX, Coldfoot, AK - Destination: PAFA, Fairbanks, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: PAFA, Fairbanks International Airport, runway 02R, 4,510 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 19, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 800 total, 340 as pilot in command, 123 in the last 90 days, 66 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 22,000 ft - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: PAFA, 1 nm away - METAR: PAFA 050853Z 00000KT 10SM SCT140 BKN220 16/13 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP156 T01610128 402500083 53001 $ ## 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 ANC12CA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA015), Dec 15, 2011: Piper PA-31-350 (N9FW), Hughes, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot did not clear the area surrounding the airplane prior to taxi, resulting in the airplane contacting a piece of baggage. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 8, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194845. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17481217&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC24LA074%206120%202_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record (pilot interview) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17486532&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Pilot%20interview-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 813 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17472388&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC24LA074%20Investigative%20Photographs-Rel.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.