Summary
On December 14, 2017, a Piper PA 32R (N8209C) was involved in an incident near Kwigillingok, AK. All 3 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot’s decision to land with the sun in his eyes, which resulted in a short landing.
According to the pilot, he landed on runway 15 instead of runway 33 because he did not want to make a 180° turn and taxi back on the runway.
He reported that, when he turned final the sun was in his eyes and the airplane landed short. During landing, the right main landing gear collided with "deep snow" during the flare, and the airplane veered to the right and collided with a snow berm.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing spar, horizontal stabilizer and the fuselage.
Per the National Transportation Safety Board's Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot identified in the Owner Safety Recommendation section, that this accident could have been prevented if he had used runway 33, and not had the sun in his eyes during landing.
The pilot reported that there...
This incident is documented in NTSB report GAA18CA088. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N8209C.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot’s decision to land with the sun in his eyes, which resulted in a short landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
According to the pilot, he landed on runway 15 instead of runway 33 because he did not want to make a 180° turn and taxi back on the runway.
He reported that, when he turned final the sun was in his eyes and the airplane landed short. During landing, the right main landing gear collided with "deep snow" during the flare, and the airplane veered to the right and collided with a snow berm.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing spar, horizontal stabilizer and the fuselage.
Per the National Transportation Safety Board's Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot identified in the Owner Safety Recommendation section, that this accident could have been prevented if he had used runway 33, and not had the sun in his eyes during landing.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA18CA088