Piper PA-32-300 N4480X

Summary

On 20 January 1995 at about 14:33 local time, a Piper PA-32-300 registered N4480X, operated by Village Aviation Inc., was involved in an accident near Akiak, Alaska, United States. 7 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 January 1995 at 14:33

Classification

Accident

Location

Akiak, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Akiak (AKI)

Coordinates

60.9004, -161.2296

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-300

Registration

N4480X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Village Aviation Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Bethel

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

ANC95LA029

Nobody was injured.

THE PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO AN ERRATIC SPARK PLUG.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT STATED THE RUNWAY WAS COVERED WITH 2 INCHES OF SNOW AND HE ELECTED TO PERFORM A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF.HE SAID HE APPLIED BACK PRESSURE ON THE YOKE AT 70 MPH AND THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF AT 80 MPH. THE AIRPLANE SETTLED BACK TO THE RUNWAY, LIFTED OFF AGAIN AND FLEW BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT CLIMB OR ACCELERATE, AND HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT COLLIDING WITH TREES BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY. HE SAID AS THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED, HE APPLIED FULL FLAPS TO CUSHION THE IMPACT. THE AIRPLANE LANDED IN THE RUNWAY OVERRUN AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT WROTE IN HIS STATEMENT TO THE NTSB THAT HE FELT THE ACCIDENT WAS PRECIPITATED BY A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A POSTACCIDENT ENGINE RUN DISCLOSED A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND AN ERRATIC FIRING SPARK PLUG.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.