Piper PA32R accident near Anchorage, Alaska, February 13, 2019
On February 13, 2019 at about 9:45 pm local time, a 1977 Piper PA32R, registered N40449, was involved in an accident during enroute (descent) near Anchorage, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to ensure that the passenger’s lap belt was appropriately fastened for the forecast turbulent conditions, and the passenger’s failure to tighten her lap belt appropriately, which resulted in the passenger’s serious injury during an encounter with turbulence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 13, 2019 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32R 300, built 1977 · all PA32Rs on the register
- Registration
- N40449 · registry record · serial 32R-7780519
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the airplane encountered momentary severe turbulence while descending toward the destination airport. A passenger in the second row hit her head on the cabin ceiling and sustained a serious injury to her neck. The passenger stated that she was familiar with the operation of the seat belt and flew in the airplane about once or twice a month for many years, but on this flight, she did not tighten the lap belt sufficiently. Weather forecasts indicated that occasional to constant moderate turbulence was expected in the area; however, the pilot did not ensure that the passenger’s lap belt was appropriately fastened.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Turbulence encounter during enroute (descent) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Effect on personnel
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Response/compensation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Passenger
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 21,000 hours in all; 13,000 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 25, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 22,163 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 28, 2019
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 K1A5 (piston); 1,543 hours total
- Operator: Sound Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: 2AK Lime Village AK at 9:00 pm
- Destination: MRI Anchorage AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from PANC, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on June 18, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation (Passenger) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | National Weather Service Forecast Graphics | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Pireps | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N40449 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.