# NTSB ANC84LA076: Piper PA-32, N4143W, Nunavachak, AK, May 24, 1984 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 24, 1984 - Place: Nunavachak, AK - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 8 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 4291 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC84LA076 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4291/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84LA076 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - object - aircraft moving on ground (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE PLT OF A PIPER PA-32, N4143W, WAS TAKING OFF TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST ON A TIDAL BEACH AT THE SAME TIME THAT ANOTHER PLT WAS TAXIING WEST ONTO THE BEACH. THE OTHER PLT WAS TAXIING A HIGH WING, BELLANCA 7GCBC, N2677Z. THE BELLANCA WAS ANGLING DOWN ONTO THE LOWER TIDAL AREA OF HARD PACKED SAND FROM A SOMEWHAT HIGHER AREA OF SOFT SAND. AS THE BELLANCA PLT WAS TAXIING DOWN THE SLOPE, THE VIEW TO HIS LEFT REAR WAS RESTRICTED BY HIS LEFT WING. ALSO, AS THE PA-32 PLT WAS TAKING OFF, HIS RIGHT FORWARD VIEW WAS RESTRICTED BY THE ACFT'S NOSE. SHORTLY AFTER THE PIPER PA-32 LIFTED OFF, ITS RIGHT WING TIP STRUCK THE LEFT WING & PROPELLER OF THE BELLANCA 7GCBC. THE PA-32 PLT ABORTED HIS TAKEOFF & STOPPED AFTER TRAVELING ANOTHER 300 TO 400 FT. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) THE PLT OF A PIPER PA-32, N4143W, WAS TAKING OFF TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST ON A TIDAL BEACH AT THE SAME TIME THAT ANOTHER PLT WAS TAXIING WEST ONTO THE BEACH. THE OTHER PLT WAS TAXIING A HIGH WING. BELLANCA 7GCBC, N2677Z. THE BELLANCA WAS ANGLING DOWN ONTO THE LOWER TIDAL AREA OF HARD PACKED SAND FROM A SOMEWHAT HIGHER AREA OF SOFT SAND. AS THE BELLANCA PLT WAS TAXIING DOWN THE SLOPE, THE VIEW TO HIS LEFT REAR WAS RESTRICTED BY HIS LEFT WING. ALSO, AS THE PA-32 PLT WAS TAKING OFF, HIS RIGHT FORWARD VIEW WAS RESTRICTED BY THE ACFT'S NOSE. SHORTLY AFTER THE PIPER PA-32 LIFTED OFF, ITS RIGHT WING TIP STRUCK THE LEFT WING & PROPELLER OF THE BELLANCA 7GCBC. THE PA-32 PLT ABORTED HIS TAKEOFF & STOPPED AFTER TRAVELING ANOTHER 300 TO 400 FT. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N4143W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4143W-2022-09-12), registration cancelled 2022-09-12, S/N 32-40211, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (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: 32-40211 - Airframe hours: 3680 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Armstrong Air Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 21, 1984, 5 hours before ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N2677Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2677Z), registered now, S/N 1018-78 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7GCBC - Registry model: [Bellanca 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcbc) (registry code 1220601) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1018-78 - Airframe hours: 2172 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Anthony L. Dobert - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 19, 1984, 12 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N4143W; age 26; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,800 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 4,200 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N2677Z; age 37; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 7,556 total, 820 in this make and model, 6,564 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 225° at 9 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 5 °F ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19840524023121A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840524023121A), May 24, 1984: Piper PA32260, Nunavachak Beac, AK, Substantial damage. Collided with a citabria N2677Z shortly after liftoff. The citabria was taxiing onto the beach takeoff area. - [Accident 19840524023122A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840524023122A), May 24, 1984: Bbavia 7GCBC, Nunavachak_beac, AK, Substantial damage. While taxiing onto beach takeoff area,was struck by a cherokee N4143W that had just lifted from its takeoff run. 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.