Piper PA-32-300 N2947N

Summary

On 25 June 2002 at about 19:45 local time, a Piper PA-32-300 registered N2947N, operated by L A B Flying Service Inc, was involved in an accident near Kake, Alaska, United States. 6 people were on board and 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 June 2002 at 19:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Kake, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

57.0567, -133.6317

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-300

Registration

N2947N

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

L A B Flying Service Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kake → Petersburg

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC02LA069

3 people had minor injuries.

The in-flight separation of the upper engine cowling from the airplane. A factor contributing to the accident was the soft, sandy terrain of the landing area.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a scheduled 14 CFR Part 135 commuter flight, an engine cowling latch disengaged in cruise flight, and the upper cowling opened and separated from the airplane. Wind passing over the open engine compartment extracted the engine oil dipstick, and oil siphoned from the dipstick tube covered the airplane's windscreen. The pilot declared an emergency, and was joined in-flight by a U. S. Coast Guard helicopter. The helicopter guided the airplane to a beach for an emergency landing. During the landing, the nose wheel of the airplane sank into the soft sand, and the nose gear collapsed, damaging the airplane's firewall. According to a report issued by the FAA aviation safety inspector, who inspected the accident airplane, the cowling latch receptacles displayed significant wear patterns.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.