# NTSB ANC89LA039: Piper PA-32-300, N43527, Port Lions, AK, January 15, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 15, 1989, 15:48 local (19:48 UTC)
- Place: Port Lions, AK
- Coordinates: 57.900951, -153.040802 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.9010&lon=-153.0408&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5164
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC89LA039
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5164/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA039

## Probable cause

THE PILOTS INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL/MUSH AND SUBSEQUENT HARD LANDING. THE DOWNDRAFT WHICH THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE AIR-TAXI PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 15 FEET OVER THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN SINKING RAPIDLY. HE ADDED POWER AND AFT ELEVATOR CONTROL, BUT THE AIRPLANE STILL LANDED HARD, CAUSING THE AFT END OF THE FUSELAGE TO STRIKE THE RUNWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N43527](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N43527), registered now, S/N 32-7440131, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- 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: 32-7440131
- Airframe hours: 1871
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Peninsula Airways, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 2, 1988, 91 hours before
- Departed: ADQ, KODIAK, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: ORI, Port Lions, runway 24, 2,600 × 100 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,457 total, 498 in this make and model, 6,315 as pilot in command, 161 in the last 90 days, 63 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19890115001749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890115001749A), Jan 15, 1989: Piper PA32300, Port Lions, AK, Substantial damage. Leveled off too high and dropped to the runway damaging gear and tail of the aircraft. Strong crosswind existed.

## Other investigations on N43527 (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 ANC94LA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA026), Dec 12, 1993: Piper PA-32 (N43527), Port Lions, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISION-MAKING BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE ICY RUNWAY CONDITION AND THE TAILWIND.

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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