Piper PA-31 N54272
5 December 1996 · Nunapitchuk, Alaska, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 5 December 1996 at about 20:30 local time, a Piper PA-31 registered N54272 was involved in an accident near Nunapitchuk, Alaska, United States. 6 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 20:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Nunapitchuk, Alaska, United States
- Nearest airport
- Nunapitchuk (16A)
- Coordinates
- 60.8804, -162.4603
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31
- Registration
- N54272
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Chevak → Bethel
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC97LA012
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control during the landing. Factors associated with the accident were: the low fuel condition, which led to a single engine landing, and the crosswind condition.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot stated the right fuel tanks emptied, and he had to shut down the right engine. He elected to make a precautionary landing at Nunapitchuk. During the landing, the airplane touched down hard. The airplane was tracking straight during the initial landing roll until the nose wheel touched the ground. The airplane then veered off the right side of the runway. The pilot stated he had a direct 15 knot crosswind from the left.
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 |
| 24 Jul 1996 | Piper PA-31-350 | Kneeland, California, United States | Union Flights | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Apr 1996 | Piper PA-28 | Wasilla, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Apr 1996 | Piper PA-11 | Paxson, Alaska, United States | Mark W. Barkdull | No injuries | - |
| 24 Apr 1996 | Piper PA-14 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | David Calkins | No injuries | - |
| 27 Apr 1996 | Piper PA-18 | Kotzebue, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 Apr 1996 | Cessna 180H | Palmer, Alaska, United States | Richard Greeno | No injuries | - |
| 28 Apr 1996 | Piper PA-18 | Kasilof, Alaska, United States | Paul G. Isaak | No injuries | - |