# NTSB ANC94LA021: Piper PA-32, N38393, Napakiak, AK, December 3, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 3, 1993, 16:27 local (20:27 UTC) - Place: Napakiak, AK - Coordinates: 60.680107, -162.000381 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.6801&lon=-162.0004&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 17, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2475 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA021 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2475/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA021 ## Probable cause THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER APPROACH AIRSPEED. ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE PERFORMING A 20 DEGREE LEFT BANKING TURN FROM BASE LEG TO THE FINAL APPROACH HEADING WITH FULL FLAPS THE STALL WARNING HORN CAME ON. WHILE IN THE TURN, THE PILOT RECALLED OBSERVING AN INDICATED AIRSPEED OF BETWEEN 50 AND 55 KNOTS AND THE PLANE'S ALTITUDE WAS FROM 50 TO 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE APPLIED FULL POWER AND MAINTAINED A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE IN AN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN AIRSPEED. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE SNOW COVERED TUNDRA APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. ## Factual narrative On December 03, 1993, at 1627 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-32-300 airplane, N38393, operated by Kusko Aviation, Inc., collided with terrain during a visual approach to runway 34 at Napakiak, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot-in-command, the sole occupant, was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 135 on demand cargo flight departed Bethel, Alaska at 1623 and the destination was Napakiak. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company VFR flight plan was in effect. The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge during a telephone interview that he departed Bethel with two hours and 45 minutes of fuel and approximately 50 pounds of freight in the form of clothing. While performing a dog leg pattern to runway 34 from the base leg to the final approach heading, the stall warning horn came on. At the time, the airplane was in a 20 degree left bank descending turn with full flaps. While in the turn, the pilot recalled observing an indicated airspeed of between 50 and 55 knots and the plane's altitude was between 50 and 100 feet above the ground. The pilot said that he applied full power and maintained a nose down attitude in an attempt to regain airspeed. The airplane collided with the snow covered tundra approximately 300 feet short of the runway. The pilot reported that the plane's exterior surfaces were clear of ice prior to departing Bethel, that no precipitation was encountered en route, and that he experienced no problems with the plane's engine or flight controls. He estimated the weather at Napakiak at the time of his approach to be 600 feet scattered, visibility 3 miles, with no wind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## 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 - Airframe hours: 11569 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Kusko Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 12, 1993, 65 hours before - Departed: BET, BETHEL, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: WNA, Napakiak, runway 34, 2,100 × 100 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,920 total, 955 in this make and model, 2,780 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 8 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 10 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BET, 20 nm away ## 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 19931203047529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931203047529A), Dec 3, 1993: Piper PA32300, Napakiak, AK, Substantial damage. High sink rate on u turn to final. Added power but stall mushed into snow covered tundra 300 ft short of runway. ## 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 ANC90LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC90LA002), Oct 1, 1989: Piper PA-32 (N38393), Kwethluk, AK, substantial damage. 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… 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.