# NTSB ANC94LA026: Piper PA-32, N43527, Port Lions, AK, December 12, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 12, 1993, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Port Lions, AK - Coordinates: 57.899044, -153.040023 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.8990&lon=-153.0400&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2480 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA026 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2480/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA026 ## 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. ## 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 - terrain condition - icy (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll ## Analysis THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A DOWNWIND LANDING ON ICY, WET RUNWAY. NO LOCAL OBSERVER WAS AVAILABLE TO ASSESS THE RUNWAY CONDITION. THE WIND SOCK AND WHITECAPS ON NEARBY WATER WERE AVAILABLE TO THE PILOT TO DETERMINE WIND ON APPROACH. ## Factual narrative On December 12, 1993, at approximately 1100 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-32 airplane, N43257, struck a snow berm on the side of the runway at Port Lions, near Kodiak, Alaska. The airplane, operating under 14 CFR Part 135, on-demand air taxi on a VFR flight plan, left the runway surface, sustaining substantial damage in a small ditch. Visual meteorological conditions existed during the flight which had departed Kodiak at 1045. The airline transport pilot and four passengers on board were not injured. The pilot told NTSB and FAA investigators that the (2100 foot long) runway was usable the full length but "was icy." He said that the weather was "1000 foot overcast, 10 miles visibility with winds from the northeast, 10 to 15 (knots)". He said that he selected runway 24 for landing and hit a snow berm on the side of the runway, breaking the propeller and nose gear. He said that "trees at one end makes us land that way" (toward the SW). An Alaska State Trooper Sergeant Robert Hinds on scene said that it was raining and water on the ice "made it very slippery just getting up there." Company representatives reportedly told the FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI) that the airplane sustained damage to the firewall bulkhead, as well as some limited rib damage to both wings. A narrative report received from the company on 12/13/93 stated that the "pilot decided to land downwind-uphill (1.29 grade)- from the air rwy looked sanded-ice was wet. Lost control midway + slid off side. Bent prop + folded nose wheel under - pax not injured." The Alaska Supplement, Flight Information Publication, cautions pilots using Port Lions, "Rwy condition not monitored, recommend visual inspection prior to using. Subject to downdrafts during NE winds. Rwy width 100 ft between edge markers." There was no ground observer at Port Lions at the time of the landing accident and no local field conditions were known to have been transmitted to the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43527](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N43527), registered now, S/N 32-7440131, built 1974 (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: 32-7440131 - Airframe hours: 5955 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Peninsula Airways, doing business as Penair - Registered owner: Peninsula Airways - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 3, 1993, 57 hours before - Departed: ADQ, KODIAK, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: ORI, Port Lions, runway 24, 2,100 × 75 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,500 total, 1,800 in this make and model, 3,400 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 45° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 30 °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 19931212046809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931212046809A), Dec 12, 1993: Piper PA32300, Port Lions, AK, Substantial damage. Landed downwind uphill on wet icy runway and slid off side into a ditch. Pilot blamed snow berm on edge of runway. ## 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 ANC89LA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA039), Jan 15, 1989: Piper PA-32-300 (N43527), Port Lions, AK, substantial damage. 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. 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.