# NTSB ANC99LA020: Piper PA-31-350, N6GR, Anchorage, AK, January 5, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 5, 1999, 14:25 local (18:25 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.16061, -149.990875 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1606&lon=-149.9909&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 45597 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45597/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA020 ## Probable cause The failure of the driver of a vehicle to maintain an adequate visual lookout. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing - object - vehicle - visual lookout - not maintained, driver of vehicle (cause) ## Analysis The certificated airline transport pilot, with five passengers, was taxiing to the operator's facility at the conclusion of an on-demand air taxi flight. The taxiway connects the main airport complex with outlying operator's facilities around the perimeter of a lake. The taxiway had private airplane tie-down lots located along its length. A snowplow equipped pickup truck was removing snow from a private airplane tie-down spot, located alongside the taxiway. The truck, operated by the owner of the tie-down spot, was equipped with a metal lumber rack in the bed of the truck. While positioning the truck, the owner backed across the taxiway, into the path of the accident airplane. A portion of the lumber rack struck the outboard end of the left wing of the airplane, damaging 3 feet of the leading edge, including several wing ribs. The airport permits limited vehicular traffic on the taxiway, primarily service vehicles and aircraft owners. It is not open for use by the general public. There are two signs located about 50 feet from the point of collision. One sign that faces south reads, 'Caution Aircraft Operation Area - Yield to all Aircraft.' A second sign that faces north reads, 'Aircraft Only - No Vehicles or Pedestrians on Taxiway.' ## Factual narrative On January 5, 1999, about 1425 Alaska standard time, a Piper PA-31-350 airplane, N6GR, sustained substantial damage after being struck by a vehicle at the Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was taxiing to the operator's facility after landing. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand passenger flight under Title 14 CFR Part 135 when the accident occurred. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, Jim Air Inc., Anchorage. The certificated airline transport pilot, and the five passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Chenega Bay Airport, Chenega, Alaska, about 1340. The Director of Operations for the operator reported the airplane was taxiing on the Lake Shore taxiway, located along the west side of Lake Hood. A snowplow equipped pickup truck was removing snow from Lake Lot 75, a private airplane tie-down spot, located alongside the taxiway. The truck, operated by the owner of Lake Lot 75, was equipped with a metal lumber rack in the bed of the truck. While positioning the truck, the owner backed across the taxiway, into the path of the accident airplane. A portion of the lumber rack struck the outboard end of the left wing of the airplane. The airplane received damage to the outboard 3 feet of the leading edge, including several wing ribs. The Anchorage International airport permits limited vehicular traffic on Lake Shore taxiway, primarily service vehicles and aircraft owners. It is not open for use by the general public. There are two signs located about 50 feet from the point of collision. One sign that faces south reads, "Caution Aircraft Operation Area - Yield to all Aircraft." A second sign that faces north reads, "Aircraft Only - No Vehicles or Pedestrians on Taxiway." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6GR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6GR), registered now, S/N 31-7752130 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-31-350 - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-7752130 - Airframe hours: 5290 - Engines: Lycoming TSIO-540-J2B2 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Jim Air Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, December 21, 1998, 32 hours before - Departed: C05, CHENEGA BAY, AK - Destination: ANC - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: PANC, Anchorage International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 9,800 as pilot in command, 320 in the last 90 days, 120 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 95° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 5 °F, dew point 1 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ANC, 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 19990105004159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990105004159A), Jan 5, 1999: Piper PA31350, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (.19) On January 5, 1999, about 1425 Alaska standard time, a Piper PA-31-350 airplane, N6GR, sustained substantial damage after being struck by a vehicle at… 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.