# NTSB GAA18CA088: Piper PA 32R, N8209C, Kwigillingok, AK, December 14, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 14, 2017, 13:23 local (22:23 UTC) - Place: Kwigillingok, AK - Coordinates: 59.875556, -163.16806 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.8756&lon=-163.1681&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96502 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA088 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96502/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96502 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA088 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to land with the sun in his eyes, which resulted in a short landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: snow/ice](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060/cases.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: snow/ice](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060/cases.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he landed on runway 15 instead of runway 33 because he did not want to make a 180° turn and taxi back on the runway. He reported that, when he turned to final, the sun was in his eyes and the airplane landed short. During landing, the right main landing gear collided with "deep snow" during the flare, and the airplane veered to the right and collided with a snow berm. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing spar, horizontal stabilizer and the fuselage. The pilot reported that this accident could have been prevented if he had used runway 33 and not had the sun in his eyes during landing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he landed on runway 15 instead of runway 33 because he did not want to make a 180° turn and taxi back on the runway. He reported that, when he turned final the sun was in his eyes and the airplane landed short. During landing, the right main landing gear collided with "deep snow" during the flare, and the airplane veered to the right and collided with a snow berm. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing spar, horizontal stabilizer and the fuselage. Per the National Transportation Safety Board's Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot identified in the Owner Safety Recommendation section, that this accident could have been prevented if he had used runway 33, and not had the sun in his eyes during landing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8209C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8209C-2020-09-04), registration cancelled 2020-09-04, S/N 32R-7680082, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 32R (300) - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (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: 32R-7680082 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 12128.6 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-KIA50 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Paklook AIR, doing business as Yute Commuter Service - Registered owner: Renfro, Michael W. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 5, 2017 - Departed: ABE, Bethel, AK - Destination: GGV, Kwigillingok, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: GGV, Kwigillingok, runway 15, 1,835 × 40 ft, snow - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport, foreign; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 20, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 21,860 total, 350 in this make and model, 21,115 as pilot in command, 185.8 in the last 90 days, 9.6 in the last 30 days, 1.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 14 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 29.53 inHg - Observed at: PAKI, 26 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 20171214023089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171214023089A), Dec 14, 2017: Piper PA-32R-300, Kwigillingok, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot narrative---i was assigned to take 2 pax and baggage from bethel to Kwigillingok in the Piper lance, N8209C. Loading and fuel for the flight as follows:… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 14, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96502. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463131&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463132&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.