Piper PA 32-260 N3502W
6 August 2014 · Anderson, Alaska, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 6 August 2014 at about 19:00 local time, a Piper PA 32-260 registered N3502W, operated by Valley Aviation LLC, was involved in an accident near Anderson, Alaska, United States. 2 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 19:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Anderson, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- 63.5200, -147.5000
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 32-260
- Registration
- N3502W
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1966
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Valley Aviation LLC
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Healy River → Anderson
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC14CA060
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot was landing the tricycle gear equipped airplane at a remote, unimproved airport, which was surrounded by mountainous terrain. Before beginning his approach, the pilot assessed the wind conditions, and then planned an approach into a 25 to 35 knot quartering headwind. On short final, approximately 20 feet above ground level, a sudden wind shift caused the airplane to descend faster than anticipated. He attempted to arrest the descent by adding engine power, but the airplane landed hard and the right main wheel axle separated from the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, aileron and stabilator. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the accident may have been avoided if a windsock had been present at the airport; he also stated that notes in the Alaska Supplement warning operators of wind shear hazards associated with the terrain surrounding the airport would enhance safety.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-32 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jun 2014 | Piper PA 32-260 | Lebanon, Ohio, United States | Flying Neutrons LLC | No injuries | - |
| 31 Jul 2014 | Piper PA-32-300 | Helena, Alabama, United States | Danny Smith | Serious injuries | - |
| 7 May 2014 | Piper PA 32-300 | Lancaster, Ohio, United States | Smith Christopher | No injuries | - |
| 31 Jul 2014 | Piper PA 32-300 | Warsaw, Indiana, United States | Kasw Aviation LLC | No injuries | - |
| 16 Aug 2014 | Piper PA 32-300 | Ardmore, Oklahoma, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 24 Dec 2014 | Piper PA-32-260 | Lorrha, Tipperary, Ireland, Ireland | - | No injuries | - |
All 1,695 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 2014 | Cessna U206C | Chitina, Alaska, United States | Copper Valley Air Service | No injuries | - |
| 6 Sep 2014 | Cessna U206B | Gustavus, Alaska, United States | Fjord Flying Service | No injuries | - |
| 11 Jun 2014 | Airbus/Eurocopter AS 350 B3 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | Can See Aviation LLC | No injuries | - |
| 22 Apr 2014 | Piper PA 18A 150 | Kenai, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Feb 2014 | Craig C Walls SNOWYRIVER SPECIAL | Wasilla, Alaska, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 7 Sep 2014 | Cessna 185 | Gakona, Alaska, United States | Copper Valley Air Service LLC | No injuries | - |