- Date
- May 7, 1999, 11:55 local (19:55 UTC)
- Place
- Galena, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N1808TPiper PA-28-140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 22, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19990507004749A
- Case key
- 46273
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot-in-command's inadvertent stall during the flare for landing. A factor associated with the accident was the pilot-in-command's obstructed view of the airspeed indicator.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The first pilot, seated in the right seat, was interested in purchasing a one-half interest from the airplane owner and second pilot, seated in the left seat. Both pilots reported that the first pilot was manipulating the controls as the airplane approached for landing on runway 25. They said that about 4 feet above the runway, the nose of the airplane suddenly dropped. The nose landing gear contacted the runway hard, and collapsed. They reported that the airplane slid to a stop, and they both escaped from the airplane, which was then consumed by a postcrash fire. In his written statement to the NTSB, the first pilot added that while seated on the right side of the airplane, it was difficult to read the airspeed indicator that was positioned on the far left side on the instrument panel. Both pilots noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Factual narrative
On May 7, 1999, about 1155 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-28-140 airplane, N1808T, was destroyed by fire after landing at the Galena Airport, Galena, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The first pilot, seated in the right seat, and the second pilot, seated in the left seat, both certificated private pilots, were not injured. The airplane was owned by the second pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on May 7, both pilots reported that the purpose of the flight was to demonstrate the airplane to the first pilot, who was interested in purchasing a one-half interest. The second pilot stated that while the first pilot was landing on runway 25, about 4 feet above the runway, the nose of the airplane suddenly dropped. The nose landing gear contacted the runway hard, and collapsed. He said that the airplane slid to a stop, and they both escaped from the airplane, which was then consumed by a postcrash fire.
In his written statement to the NTSB, the first pilot added that while seated on the right side of the airplane, it was difficult to read the airspeed indicator that was positioned on the far left side on the instrument panel.
Both pilots noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1808T
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7125161
- Airframe hours
- 4,971
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- S&M Enterprises
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 31, 1998 · 40 hours before
- Departed
- GAL
- Airport
- GAL · Galena, runway 25, 7,254 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 349 total · 230 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 100 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 36 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.