# NTSB ANC95LA029: Piper PA-32-300, N4480X, Akiak, AK, January 20, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 20, 1995, 10:33 local (14:33 UTC) - Place: Akiak, AK - Coordinates: 60.900447, -161.229614 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.9004&lon=-161.2296&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 7 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2626 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA029 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2626/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA029 ## Probable cause THE PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO AN ERRATIC SPARK PLUG. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb - ignition system,spark plug - erratic (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - Nose over, emergency landing after takeoff ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THE RUNWAY WAS COVERED WITH 2 INCHES OF SNOW AND HE ELECTED TO PERFORM A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF.HE SAID HE APPLIED BACK PRESSURE ON THE YOKE AT 70 MPH AND THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF AT 80 MPH. THE AIRPLANE SETTLED BACK TO THE RUNWAY, LIFTED OFF AGAIN AND FLEW BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT CLIMB OR ACCELERATE, AND HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT COLLIDING WITH TREES BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY. HE SAID AS THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED, HE APPLIED FULL FLAPS TO CUSHION THE IMPACT. THE AIRPLANE LANDED IN THE RUNWAY OVERRUN AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT WROTE IN HIS STATEMENT TO THE NTSB THAT HE FELT THE ACCIDENT WAS PRECIPITATED BY A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A POSTACCIDENT ENGINE RUN DISCLOSED A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND AN ERRATIC FIRING SPARK PLUG. ## Factual narrative On January 20, 1995, at 1033 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Piper, PA-32-300 airplane, N4480X, registered to Village Aviation, INC., and operated by Camai Air of Bethel, Alaska, nosed over during an attempted takeoff at the Akiak Airport, Akiak, Alaska. The scheduled air taxi flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 135 as flight No. 167, was departing Akiak, and the destination was Bethel. A company flight plan was in effect and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for Class G airspace. The commercial certificated pilot and his five passengers were not injured and the airplane received substantial damage. The pilot wrote in his statement to the NTSB that the airplane became airborne about 80 MPH, and then settled back on the runway. The airplane became airborne again, but the pilot noticed that the airplane was not accelerating. He said he reduced the pitch attitude, but the airplane would not climb or accelerate. The airspeed began to decrease, as did flight control effectiveness. He stated he realized ground impact was imminent, and he lowered flaps to cushion the landing. The airplane landed in the runway overrun area, and nosed over. The pilot wrote: "Although engine analysis by the NTSB is not complete, I feel this to be the cause of the accident. All parameters of the takeoff appeared normal except after lifting off the runway the airplane did accelerate as expected..." Examination of the engine showed no external mechanical failure of the engine or its accessories. The engine was test run at Seair, Incorporated. The start-up and warm-up were normal. The engine was accelerated, and after 20 minutes of operation, the engine began to run rough. A magneto check during the engine run showed that a problem existed with the left magneto or left magneto spark plugs. Further examination showed that one spark plug would not fire consistently, and when it would fire, the spark was very weak. According to Camai Air, the pilot tested negative for evidence of illegal drug use. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4480X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4480X-2013-07-10), registration cancelled 2013-07-10, S/N 32-7640025, built 1975 (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: 32-7640025 - Airframe hours: 9850 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Village Aviation Inc., doing business as Camai Air - Registered owner: Tununrmiut Rinit Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 4, 1995, 30 hours before - Destination: BET, BETHEL, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: AKI, Akiak, runway 21, 1,900 × 75 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,000 total, 300 in this make and model, 4,900 as pilot in command, 296 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 240° at 3 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 12 °F, dew point 9 °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 19950120003489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950120003489A), Jan 20, 1995: Piper PA32300, Akiak, AK, Substantial damage. Settled on climbout into overrun. Nosed over. Performance degraded by faulty magneto and a fowled spark plug. 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.