Piper PA-31-350 N3588Z

Summary

On 8 May 1995 at about 21:42 local time, a Piper PA-31-350 registered N3588Z was involved in an accident near Dillingham, Alaska, United States. 6 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

8 May 1995 at 21:42

Classification

Accident

Location

Dillingham, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Dillingham (DLG)

Coordinates

58.8194, -157.8597

Aircraft

Piper PA-31-350

Registration

N3588Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Toksook → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC95LA050

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT ARE: THE DISPATCHER'S DECISION TO DISPATCH A MULTI-ENGINED AIRPLANE TO A SHORT, SOFT AIRSTRIP, AND INADEQUATE COMPANY MANAGEMENT OVERSIGHT/SURVEILLANCE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT WAS DISPATCHED TO A REMOTE GRAVEL AIRSTRIP AT TOKSOOK TO PICK UP AN UNDETERMINED NUMBER OF PASSENGERS. UPON ARRIVAL THE PILOT LOADED THE AIRPLANE WITH 5 PASSENGERS. HE ELECTED TO TAKE OFF TO THE NORTH TO AVOID A REPORTED SOFT SPOT AT THE SOUTH END OF THE RUNWAY. THE 1,800-FT RUNWAY SLOPES UPHILL TO THE NORTH WITH A GRADIENT OF APPROX 2%. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A SOFT SPOT AND DECELERATED. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF, AND THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT MAIN TIRE STRUCK A SNOW BERM SHORTLY AFTER PASSING OVER THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE RIGHT MAIN TIRE AND GEAR STRUT SEPARATED FROM THE LANDING GEAR. THE FLIGHT CONTINUED TO DILLINGHAM AND A GEAR UP LANDING WAS MADE. THE PILOT HAD ESTIMATED THE AIRPLANE'S TAKEOFF WEIGHT AT 6,200 POUNDS. AN FAA INSPECTOR REVIEWED THE FLIGHT'S WEIGHT AND BALANCE DATA AND COMPUTED ITS WEIGHT AT 6,576 POUNDS. AT THIS WEIGHT, THE AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT MANUAL INDICATES THAT THE AIRPLANE REQUIRES 2,200 FT FOR TAKEOFF FROM A LEVEL, HARD SURFACED RUNWAY, AND 2,100 FT WHEN LOADED TO 6,200 POUNDS. THE FLIGHT MANUAL HAS NO PROVISIONS FOR DETERMINING ADDITIONAL RUNWAY NEEDED FOR TAKEOFF FROM A SOFT, UPHILL RUNWAY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.