Shannon's Pond Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dillingham, Alaska 99576
Wednesday, February 26, 1997 15:00 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot and 6 passengers were departing a private airstrip on a charter flight with a special VFR clearance. The gravel airstrip was 2,400 feet long, was at an elevation of 80 feet mean sea level, and was oriented on a 110/290 degree magnetic heading. The runway was covered by slushy snow, about 1-1/2 inches deep. The pilot attempted to depart on runway 11, but aborted the takeoff. He then attempted to depart on runway 29. He indicated that about 1/2 of the way down the runway, the airspeed was about 5 knots below takeoff speed. He elected to continue the takeoff, but the airspeed then dropped, and the airplane departed the end of the runway without ever lifting off. The airplane received damage to the engine, nose gear, and firewall. The pilot reported the wind was from the southwest at 15 knots. An official weather reporting station, 3 miles from the accident site, reported the wind was from 160 degrees (true) at 11 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for departure, and his inadequate evaluation of the wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident were: a snow/slush covered runway, and a quartering tailwind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/26/1997
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City DILLINGHAM
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99576
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SHANNON'S POND
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 80
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1450 Atlantic Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 135
Weather Observation Facility ID DLG
Elevation of weather observation facility 80
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation AST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 0
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 7
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 681
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 4 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1315
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:07PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N32979
NTSB Number ANC97LA030
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-32-300
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-300
Aircraft Serial Number 32-7540077
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 7
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ERIC SHADE
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 393
Aircraft Owner City DILLINGHAM
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99576
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code SAYC
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BET
Destination City BETHEL
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 29
Runway Length 2400
Runway Width 65
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --