Piper PA32R N40449

Summary

On 13 February 2019 at about 21:45 local time, a Piper PA32R registered N40449, operated by Sound Aviation, was involved in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 February 2019 at 21:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.3000, -150.5400

Aircraft

Piper PA32R

Registration

N40449

Category

Airplane

Year built

1977

Operator

Sound Aviation

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lime Village → Anchorage

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC19TA014

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to ensure that the passenger’s lap belt was appropriately fastened for the forecast turbulent conditions, and the passenger’s failure to tighten her lap belt appropriately, which resulted in the passenger’s serious injury during an encounter with turbulence.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the airplane encountered momentary severe turbulence while descending toward the destination airport. A passenger in the second row hit her head on the cabin ceiling and sustained a serious injury to her neck. The passenger stated that she was familiar with the operation of the seat belt and flew in the airplane about once or twice a month for many years, but on this flight, she did not tighten the lap belt sufficiently. Weather forecasts indicated that occasional to constant moderate turbulence was expected in the area; however, the pilot did not ensure that the passenger’s lap belt was appropriately fastened.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.