Aviation Crash Map

Piper PA-32 N38393

1 October 1989 · Kwethluk, Alaska, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 1 October 1989 at about 00:00 local time, a Piper PA-32 registered N38393, operated by Kusko Aviation, was involved in an accident near Kwethluk, 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 00:00
Classification
Accident
Location
Kwethluk, Alaska, United States
Nearest airport
Kwethluk (KWT)
Coordinates
60.7901, -161.4209
Aircraft
Piper PA-32
Registration
N38393
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Kusko Aviation
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Positioning
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Quinhagak → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
ANC90LA002

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

THE PILOT MISJUDGED HIS ALTITUDE AND DISTANCE FROM THE RUNWAY DRG THE APPROACH, WHICH RESULTED IN A PREMATURE TOUCHDOWN AND FAILURE OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR, WHEN IT HIT THE RUNWAY LIP. THE SUNGLARE AND LACK OF VISUAL CUES (VISUAL PERCEPTION) WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS LANDING ON A 1700' AIRSTRIP THAT HE HAD ROUTINELY USED. HE SAID HE LANDED SLIGHTLY SHORT & BELOW THE RUNWAY GRADE, STRIKING THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR ON THE LIP OF THE RUNWAY. THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR FAILED & SEPARATED FROM THE WING, DAMAGING THE WING SPAR. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD SOME DIFFICULTY WITH THE APPROACH TO LANDING DUE TO SUNGLARE. ON A SUBSEQUENT APPLICATION FOR MED CERT, DATED 3/28/90, THE PLT RPRTD 8000 HRS OF FLT TIME.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-32 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
9 Mar 1989 Piper PA-32
N4257T
Kasigluk, Alaska, United States - No injuries -
26 Apr 1989 Piper PA-32-300
N8654N
Eufaula, Oklahoma, United States Bauer, Kathleen No injuries -
26 Nov 1989 Piper PA-32-300
N416CP
Boulder City, Nevada, United States Bellis, James E. No injuries -
1 Aug 1989 Piper PA-32-300
N8909N
Danbury, Connecticut, United States
no coordinates
Miles B Reese No injuries -
16 Jun 1989 Piper PA-32-300
N32062
Eek, Alaska, United States - No injuries -
23 Jun 1989 Piper PA-32-300
N15306
Tuntutuliak, Alaska, United States - No injuries -

All 1,695 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
9 Mar 1989 Cessna 185E
N70122
Alexander Lake, Alaska, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
16 Mar 1989 Aeronca 15AC
N4433N
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States - No injuries -
25 Mar 1989 Cessna 180-A
N9685B
Skwentna, Alaska, United States - No injuries -
12 Apr 1989 Cessna 185
N9850X
Trinity Lake, Alaska, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
17 Apr 1989 Cessna 152
N6479L
Kenai, Alaska, United States - No injuries -
24 Apr 1989 Cessna 180
N7652A
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States - No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States