# NTSB CEN22LA381: Piper PA31, N317AK, Port Alsworth, AK, August 2, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 2, 2022, 14:40 local (22:40 UTC) - Place: Port Alsworth, AK · Wilder Airport, Port Alsworth - Coordinates: 60.1191, -154.1938 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.1191&lon=-154.1938&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 105716 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA381 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105716/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105716 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA381 ## Probable cause A hard landing that occurred at an unknown time and date, which resulted in substantial damage. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot performed a preflight inspection and departed to his destination. He stated that after a normal approach the left wing “dipped” at touchdown. The airplane subsequently “landed hard” on the left side. After the landing, the pilot shutdown the airplane and requested a company mechanic to inspect the landing gear. A visual examination of the landing gear was performed, but no damage was found. Subsequent examination of the airplane conducted three days later, revealed substantial damage to the fuselage, and left wing consistent with a hard landing. The airplane is also used for training, and it could not be determined if the airplane was flown after the hard landing. The pilot at the time of the hard landing, and the date and time of occurrence was undetermined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N317AK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N317AK), registered now, S/N 31-7752145 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA31 (350) - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-7752145 - Engines: Lycoming reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PAMR, Anchorage, AK - Destination: PALJ, Port Alsworth, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: 05K, Port Alsworth Airport, runway 24/6, 3,000 × 50 ft, gravel - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review June 1, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 20,000 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 19,800 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 120 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 8 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 3001.00 inHg - METAR: METAR PALJ 022052Z 25007KT 15SM SCT010 BKN020 OVC040 13/11 A3001 RMK EST PASS CLSD NOSPECI= ## 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 20220802013939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220802013939A), Aug 2, 2022: Piper PA-31-350, Port Alsworth, AK, Substantial damage. On 8/5/2022 it was reported that a hard landing on 8/2/82022 resulted in significant damage to [privacy data omitted]. The aircraft is a Piper PA-31 that was… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 23, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105716. 7.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 6.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14793995&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14469506&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf 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.