KONGIGANAK, AK, USA
N81844
Piper PA-32-300
The pilot said that he was landing on a snow and ice covered runway. While on final approach, the airplane descended below the intended glide path and struck a snow berm just short of the runway. He said that as he turned base to final, the far end of the runway was obscured. As he approached the threshold, he felt a sudden drop, and he initiated a go-around, but the airplane settled onto the threshold area.
On February 24, 1998, at 1100 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-32-300 airplane, N81844, operated by Peninsula Airways, Inc., sustained substantial damage when it landed short of Runway 36 at the Kongiganak Airport, Kongiganak, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot and three passengers were not injured. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 135 as scheduled commuter Flight 415, operating in visual meteorological conditions. Lower visibility conditions were reported in the area at the time of the accident. A company VFR flight plan was in effect. The airplane last departed Tuntatuliak, Alaska, at 1045. The pilot indicated in a written statement to the NTSB the following: "Weather was generally 1,000 foot overcast and ten miles visibility with scattered areas of mist and flurries. On downwind, I watched a plane depart Runway 36 and do a right turnout to give me the airspace. On turnout, I saw him disappear into a darker wall of mist. Still on downwind over the village, I saw the visibility dropping. As I turned base to final, the far end of the threshold was obscured." The pilot reported that the wind conditions were out of the northeast at 15-18 knots with peak gusts of 22-25 knots. While on final approach to the Kongiganak Airport, the pilot said the airplane suddenly lost altitude, and descended below the intended glide path. A go-around was initiated, but the airplane continued to descend onto the threshold area of the runway. Upon initial touch down the right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane continued down the runway for approximately 1,200 feet where the left main landing gear also collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar. A conversation with the general manager for Peninsula Airways disclosed that company personnel at the site had discovered what was believed to be tire marks from the accident airplane on a snow berm prior to the threshold of Runway 36.
The pilot misjudged distance/altitude and airspeed, and his delay initiating a go-around. Related factors were the downdraft and snowbank.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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