# NTSB ANC90LA002: Piper PA-32, N38393, Kwethluk, AK, October 1, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 1, 1989
- Place: Kwethluk, AK
- Coordinates: 60.790142, -161.420898 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7901&lon=-161.4209&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5313
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC90LA002
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5313/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC90LA002

## Probable cause

THE PILOT MISJUDGED HIS ALTITUDE AND DISTANCE FROM THE RUNWAY DRG THE APPROACH, WHICH RESULTED IN A PREMATURE TOUCHDOWN AND FAILURE OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR, WHEN IT HIT THE RUNWAY LIP.  THE SUNGLARE AND LACK OF VISUAL CUES (VISUAL PERCEPTION) WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS LANDING ON A 1700' AIRSTRIP THAT HE HAD ROUTINELY USED. HE SAID HE LANDED SLIGHTLY SHORT & BELOW THE RUNWAY GRADE, STRIKING THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR ON THE LIP OF THE RUNWAY.  THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR FAILED & SEPARATED FROM THE WING, DAMAGING THE WING SPAR.  THE PILOT SAID HE HAD SOME DIFFICULTY WITH THE APPROACH TO LANDING DUE TO SUNGLARE. ON A SUBSEQUENT APPLICATION FOR MED CERT, DATED 3/28/90, THE PLT RPRTD 8000 HRS OF FLT TIME.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N38393](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38393-1996-08-21), registration cancelled 1996-08-21, S/N 327840023 (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: 32-7840023
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Kusko Aviation
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Departed: AQH, QUINHAGAK, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: KWT, Kwethluk, runway 24, 1,700 × 50 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 8,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19891001042339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891001042339A), Oct 1, 1989: Piper PA32300, Kwethluk, AK, Substantial damage. Struck lip of the runway landing short. Impact severed right main landing gear.

## Other investigations on N38393 (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 ANC94LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA021), Dec 3, 1993: Piper PA-32 (N38393), Napakiak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER APPROACH AIRSPEED.

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.