Piper PA-31-350 N27989
28 February 1996 · Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 28 February 1996 at about 16:50 local time, a Piper PA-31-350 registered N27989 was involved in an accident near Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States. 10 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.
The record
- Date
- at 16:50
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States
- Nearest airport
- Grand Canyon Natl Park (GCN)
- Coordinates
- 36.0299, -112.0205
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350
- Registration
- N27989
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Las Vegas → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX96FA122
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
Probable cause
the failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the aircraft after landing. Contributing to the accident was the icy runway conditions with poor braking.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
According to the operator, the pilot obtained preflight weather information from DUAT, ASOS, and had made a call to the Grand Canyon tower. The weather was above landing minimums and forecast to stay above. The operator stated that for the last 3 months the ASOS had not been reliable. According to the pilot's report, he received ATIS information 'Juliet' approaching Grand Canyon and it was 1,200 scattered with visibility of 3/4 miles. According to the FAA, information 'Juliet' was reporting, 50 minutes before the accident: a measured ceiling 1,300 feet broken; 3,000 feet overcast; visibility 3/4 mile in fog; temperature 23 degrees Fahrenheit; dew point 21 degrees Fahrenheit; wind calm; and the altimeter was 30.03 inHg. At the time of the accident, the ASOS was reporting indefinite 400 feet overcast with 1/4 mile in fog and snow. The ILS approach requires a minimum of a 200-foot ceiling and 1/2 mile visibility. The braking action was reported as poor due to snow and ice. The airplane landed to the left of the runway centerline and collapsed the landing gear as it slid sideways. A light ice buildup was observed on the leading edges of the airframe by airport personnel. According to the pilot, he had operated the deice boots just prior to landing.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-31 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Sep 1996 | Piper PA-31 | Janesville, Wisconsin, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Jan 1996 | Piper PA-31-350 | Zionsville, Indiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 Sep 1996 | Piper PA-31-310 | Wassau Island, Georgia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Oct 1996 | Piper PA-31-350 | Eel River Cross, Canada | JPS Corp | Fatal | 8 |
| 13 Nov 1996 | Piper PA-31-310 | Nairobi, Kenya | Kissimayu Aviation | Fatal | 8 |
| 5 Dec 1996 | Piper PA-31 | Nunapitchuk, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Oct 1996 | Cessna 172C | Mesa, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 Oct 1996 | Aero Commander 690 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | Sun West Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 17 Oct 1996 | McDonnell Douglas 369E | Mesa, Arizona, United States | MD Helicopter Systems | Minor injuries | - |
| 3 Apr 1996 | Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Apr 1996 | Cessna 172 | Sedona, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 30 Oct 1996 | Leibert BD-5B | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |