Piper PA-31 accident near Nunapitchuk, Alaska, December 5, 1996
On December 5, 1996 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-31, registered N54272, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nunapitchuk, Alaska (Nunapitchuk airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control during the landing. Factors associated with the accident were: the low fuel condition, which led to a single engine landing, and the crosswind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 5, 1996 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Nunapitchuk, Alaska · Nunapitchuk · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31 · all PA-31s on the register
- Registration
- N54272 · no longer on the register · serial 31-7405422
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated the right fuel tanks emptied, and he had to shut down the right engine. He elected to make a precautionary landing at Nunapitchuk. During the landing, the airplane touched down hard. The airplane was tracking straight during the initial landing roll until the nose wheel touched the ground. The airplane then veered off the right side of the runway. The pilot stated he had a direct 15 knot crosswind from the left.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,000 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 12,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,498 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 9, 1996; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,368 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VAK Chevak AK at 8:00 pm
- Destination: BET Bethel AK
- Runway 36, 2,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 15 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.