Piper PA-31-350 N59826

Summary

On 10 January 2025 at about 21:55 local time, a Piper PA-31-350 registered N59826, operated by Warbelows Air Ventures Inc, was involved in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, United States. 9 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.

Date

10 January 2025 at 21:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Fairbanks International Airpor (FAI)

Coordinates

64.8134, -147.8532

Aircraft

Piper PA-31-350

Registration

N59826

Category

Airplane

Year built

1976

Engines

2

Operator

Warbelows Air Ventures Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Coldfoot

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC25LA016

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to recognize that an automated taxiway gate was closing, and the pilot’s failure stop for the closing gate.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while taxiing through an automated airport taxiway gate, the gate closed on the airplane which resulted in substantial damage to the right aileron. An airport surveillance video showed the airport taxiway gate closing, with warning lights that indicated a moving gate illuminated, and the accident airplane continuing to taxi towards the closing gate. The accident airplane then impacts the closing gate with its right wingtip and left wing leading edge. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.