Nondalton Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Nondalton, Alaska 99640
Saturday, October 10, 2009 11:05 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The solo airline transport pilot reported that he was landing on a gravel-covered airstrip, at the conclusion of a Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. He reported that while on final approach, the airplane "encountered a sinker" and it began to descend below his anticipated approach path. He added full engine power to stop the descent, but the airplane continued to descend, and it landed hard on the right side of the runway. During touchdown, the airplaneā€™s landing gear collapsed, and it continued to slide for about 150 yards, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. A weather reporting station 14 miles south of the accident site reported wind from 110 degrees at 24 knots, gusting to 35 knots 12 minutes before the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's decision to attempt a landing in weather conducive to strong downdrafts, resulting in a loss of control.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/10/2009
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1105
Event Time Zone --
Event City Nondalton
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99640
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 595848N
Event Location Longitude 1545021W
Event Location Airport Nondalton Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 5NN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 314
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID ILI
Elevation of weather observation facility 192
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Overcast
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 24
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 35
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.7
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26261
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 6 2010 9:52AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N27231
NTSB Number ANC10CA002
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-31-350
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 31-7752106
Certified Max Gross Weight 7368
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 8
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Sep 23 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 48
Airframe Hours 11810
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name LAKE CLARK AIR INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address THE FARM LODGE
Aircraft Owner City PORT ALSWORTH
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99653
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name LAKE CLARK AIR INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address THE FARM LODGE
Operator City PORT ALSWORTH
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99653
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ILI
Departure City Iliamna
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1055
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 5NN
Destination City Nondalton
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 3 2009 7:30PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 20
Runway Length 2800
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --