Piper PA-32 N76RL
22 October 2002 · Bethel, Alaska, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 22 October 2002 at about 22:15 local time, a Piper PA-32 registered N76RL was involved in an accident near Bethel, Alaska, United States. 6 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 22:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Bethel, Alaska, United States
- Nearest airport
- Bethel (PABE)
- Coordinates
- 60.7797, -161.8381
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32
- Registration
- N76RL
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Bethel → Eek
- Aircraft damage
- Minor
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC03LA005
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Probable cause
The failure of both pilot's to maintain a visual outlook during taxi operations on the ramp.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
A Piper PA-32 airplane, N76RL, collided with a second Piper PA-32, N31657, as both airplanes were taxiing on the airport ramp. The operators of each of the two airplanes have adjacent loading areas on the ramp. The airline transport certificated pilot of the first Piper was preparing to depart on a cargo flight. The airplane was parked at the operator's ramp area, being fueled by a fuel truck parked in front of the airplane. The fuel truck blocked the pilot's view of the ramp. The fuel truck pulled away, and the pilot started the engine. He then applied engine power to begin a taxi from his parking spot. The pilot indicated he saw no other airplanes due to the high nose angle of his airplane. The commercial certificated pilot of the second Piper was taxiing from landing to the ramp area, headed for a parking spot adjacent to the first Piper. He did not see the first Piper due to the position of the fuel truck. As the second Piper was approaching its parking spot, the pilot began a right turn. At the same time, the fuel truck pulled away, revealing the first Piper pulling out of its parking spot. The pilot of the second Piper tightened his right turn, but the propeller of the first Piper sliced into the leading edge of the second Piper's left wing. The first Piper received minor damage and the second Piper received substantial damage.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piper PA-32 | N76RL | - | Minor |
| Piper PA-32 | N31657 | - | Substantial |
Other Piper PA-32 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jan 2002 | Piper PA-32 | Haines, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 14 Aug 2002 | Piper PA-32-260 | Red Devil, Alaska, United States | Ward H. Sattler | Minor injuries | - |
| 17 Jun 2002 | Piper PA-32-260 | Pecos, Texas, United States | Richard J. Leo | No injuries | - |
| 29 Jan 2002 | Piper PA-32-300 | Falls City, Nebraska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Feb 2002 | Piper PA-32-300 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |
| 21 Dec 2002 | Piper PA-32-300 | Macon, Georgia, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |
All 1,695 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Jun 2002 | Piper PA-18 | Fairbanks, Alaska, United States | Uriah Strong | No injuries | - |
| 8 Aug 2002 | Williamson GLASTAR | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 Sep 2002 | Cessna 180 | Tenakee Springs, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Sep 2002 | De Havilland DHC-2 | Bethel, Alaska, United States | Ptarmigan Air | No injuries | - |
| 17 Mar 2002 | McDonnell Douglas MD-82 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | Alaska Airlines, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jul 2002 | De Havilland DHC-2 | Port Alsworth, Alaska, United States | Minta Inc | Fatal | 4 |