# NTSB ANC88LA109: Piper PA-32, N32062, Kwethluk, AK, August 14, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 14, 1988, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Kwethluk, AK
- Coordinates: 60.790065, -161.420501 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7901&lon=-161.4205&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 7 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 14, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5051
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC88LA109
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5051/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC88LA109

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - sign

## Analysis

THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHILE LANDING. AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT THE WIND WAS FROM 180 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS GUSTING 20 KNOTS. THE AIRPLANE LANDED ON RUNWAY 25; AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY INTO AN AIRPORT SIGN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N32062](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32062-1990-06-19), registration cancelled 1990-06-19, S/N 327540011 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 327540011
- Airframe hours: 3334
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Kusko Aviation, doing business as Kusko Aviation Inc
- Registered owner: Kusko Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 7, 1988, 58 hours before
- Departed: KWN, QUINHAGAK, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: KWT, Kwethluk, runway 25, 1,800 × 32 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,600 total, 2,200 in this make and model, 4,300 as pilot in command, 340 in the last 90 days, 150 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 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 19880814032429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880814032429A), Aug 14, 1988: Piper PA32300, Kwethluk, AK, Substantial damage. Lost directional control landing in a severe crosswind. Veered off runway and hit runway end sign. Blamed brakes.

## Other investigations on N32062 (2)

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 ANC89LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA124), Jul 16, 1989: Piper PA-32-300 (N32062), Quinhagak, AK, destroyed. Probable cause: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON, WHICH RESULTED IN AN ENGINE VIBRATION, OIL LEAK AND A FIRE.
- [NTSB ANC89LA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA093), Jun 16, 1989: Piper PA-32-300 (N32062), Eek, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE CENTER TORQUE LINK BOLT ON THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR.

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.

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