Piper PA-31-350 N59985
11 April 1999 · Chevak, Alaska, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 11 April 1999 at about 23:50 local time, a Piper PA-31-350 registered N59985 was involved in an accident near Chevak, Alaska, United States. One person was 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 23:50
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Chevak, Alaska, United States
- Nearest airport
- Chevak (VAK)
- Coordinates
- 61.5305, -165.5999
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350
- Registration
- N59985
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Bethel → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC99LA045
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision, and his failure to attain the proper touchdown point on the runway. Factors in the accident were a tail wind condition, and the presence of snow and ice on the runway surface.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The certificated airline transport pilot was landing at a remote airport with a load of cargo and mail. The runway was covered by packed snow and ice. The pilot elected to land with a 20 knot quartering tail wind to avoid having to turn around on the runway in an area of snow and ice. The ramp area of the airport was located at the departure end of runway. After touchdown, the runway surface and the end of the runway, became obscured by blowing snow which restricted the visibility to 400 to 500 feet. The pilot said he applied the brakes, but the airplane began skidding on the ice, and went off the departure end of the runway. The right main landing gear was sheared off. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing struck the ground. The left wing was wrinkled, and fuel was seeping from the left wing fuel tank.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-31 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Mar 1999 | Piper PA-31-350 | Waterloo, Iowa, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 3 Jul 1999 | Piper PA-31-350 | Garden Valley, Idaho, United States | Salmon Air, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 11 Jun 1999 | Piper PA-31-350 | Tanana, Alaska, United States | Larry's Flying Service Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 11 Oct 1999 | Piper PA-31 | Soldotna, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 16 Oct 1999 | Piper PA-31-T3 | Gambell, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 Apr 1999 | Piper PA-31-310 | La Verne, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 May 1999 | Piper PA-24-260 | Juneau, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 24 May 1999 | Stinson 108 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | Glenn A. Ferris | Fatal | 1 |
| 29 May 1999 | De Havilland DHC 2 MK III | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | William A. Sego | No injuries | - |
| 13 Mar 1999 | Cessna 170B | Palmer, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 30 May 1999 | Piper PA-18 | Port Alsworth, Alaska, United States | James T. Ables | No injuries | - |
| 14 Mar 1999 | Cessna 180G | Fairbanks, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |