Piper PA32 N3556W

Summary

On 7 July 2019 at about 03:05 local time, a Piper PA32 registered N3556W was involved in an accident near Seldovia, Alaska, United States. 5 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

7 July 2019 at 03:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Seldovia (SOV)

Coordinates

59.4439, -151.7050

Aircraft

Piper PA32

Registration

N3556W

Category

Airplane

Year built

1966

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Seldovia → Wasilla

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA19CA387

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to attain a sufficient climb following a short-field takeoff, which resulted in collision with trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the airplane's gross takeoff weight was 300 lbs less than the maximum allowable takeoff weight. He performed a short-field takeoff from the 1,800-ft-long gravel surface, and the initial climb continued as expected. However, the climb performance then degraded and became insufficient to clear 80-ft-tall trees located about 1,000 ft from the departure end of the runway. The airplane collided with treetops, descended, and subsequently impacted a lake and became submerged. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the stabilator. 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.