# NTSB ANC97LA019: Piper PA-34, N2491U, Dillingham, AK, January 13, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 12, 1997, 22:35 local (Jan 13, 1997, 02:35 UTC) - Place: Dillingham, AK - Coordinates: 58.819347, -157.859817 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.8193&lon=-157.8598&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2959 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2959/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA019 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude or clearance from terrain during a go-around. A factor related to the accident was: the dark, night condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot and a passenger were landing at night after making a cross-country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The pilot reported he was demonstrating a VOR approach to the passenger. As the airplane touched down, the pilot noticed that a slight tail wind was present and the runway was slippery. He applied full power and executed a go-around. As the airplane began to climb, the pilot retracted the landing gear and flaps. He also began a slight left turn toward an unlit area of snow covered terrain. The airplane collided with the terrain and a tree, swerving the airplane to the right. The airplane came to rest in the snow with damage to the right wing, engine, propellers, and fuselage. ## Factual narrative On January 12, 1997, about 2235 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-34, N2491U, collided with terrain about 1/2 mile north of runway 01 at Dillingham, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country business flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot and the sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Sand Point Airport at 2103. In a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on January 13, 1997, at 0930 , the pilot reported he was demonstrating a VOR approach to runway 01 to the passenger. As the airplane touched down, the pilot noticed that a slight tail wind was present and the runway was slippery. He applied full power and executed a go-around. As the airplane began to climb, the pilot retracted the landing gear and flaps. He also began a slight left turn toward an unlit area of snow covered terrain. The airplane began to descend, and the pilot heard the airplane scrapping the surface of the snow. The airplane's right wing then struck a tree, swerving the airplane to the right. The airplane came to rest in the snow with damage to the right wing, engine propellers, and fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2491U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2491U-1999-06-28), registration cancelled 1999-06-28, S/N 34-7970447 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-34 - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34-7970447 - Airframe hours: 2274 - Engines: Continental TSIO-360-EB1 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: James F. Kelly - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 30, 1996, 57 hours before - Departed: SDP, SAND POINT, AK - Destination: DLG - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: DLG, Dillingham, runway 1, 6,404 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,744 total, 440 in this make and model, 6,176 as pilot in command, 152 in the last 90 days, 53 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 120° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DLG, 1 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 19970112001229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970112001229A), Jan 12, 1997: Piper PA34200T, Dillingham, AK, Substantial damage. Began go around due tailwind and icy rwy. Banked into unlit area. Felt PA34 scraping snow then wing hit a tree. 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.