# NTSB ANC25LA016: Piper PA-31-350, N59826, Fairbanks, AK, January 10, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 10, 2025, 12:55 local (21:55 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 64.813417, -147.85322 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8134&lon=-147.8532&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: 9 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 - FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 199529 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC25LA016 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199529/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199529 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA016 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to recognize that an automated taxiway gate was closing, and the pilot’s failure stop for the closing gate. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); 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) - [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) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000/cases.md) - [Policy/procedure: availability of policy/proc](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021010): Organizational issues › Management · Airport; cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021010/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021010/cases.md) - [Policy/procedure: availability of policy/proc](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021010): Organizational issues › Management · Operator; cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021010/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021010/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 pilot reported that, while taxiing through an automated airport taxiway gate, the gate closed on the airplane which resulted in substantial damage to the right aileron. An airport surveillance video showed the airport taxiway gate closing, with warning lights that indicated a moving gate illuminated, and the accident airplane continuing to taxi towards the closing gate. The accident airplane then impacts the closing gate with its right wingtip and left wing leading edge. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N59826](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N59826), registered now, S/N 31-7652077, built 1976 (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: 31-7652077 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 22922.5 - Engines: Lycoming LTIO-540-J2B 350 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming TIO-540-J2B 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Warbelows Air Ventures Inc - Registered owner: Warbelows Air Ventures Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: CXF, Coldfoot, AK - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: FAI, Fairbanks International Airport - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 17, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 12,034 total, 7,017 in this make and model, 10,503 as pilot in command, 81 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 22,000 ft broken - Temperature: 14 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 29.57 inHg - Observed at: PAFA, 1 nm away - METAR: PAFA 102153Z 35005KT 10SM FEW018 SCT075 BKN220 M10/M13 A2957 RMK AO2 SLP024 T11001133 $ ## 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 20250110000059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250110000059A), Jan 10, 2025: Piper PA-31-350, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. The automated gate between runways was open due to an aircraft that had previously passed through it. The pilot of the aircraft that impacted the gate… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 12, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199529. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18258440&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA016%206120%20V2_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 445 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18261293&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA016%20Photos-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.