Piper PA-28-140 accident near Galena, Alaska, May 7, 1999
On May 7, 1999 at about 7:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N1808T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Galena, Alaska (Galena airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot-in-command's inadvertent stall during the flare for landing. A factor associated with the accident was the pilot-in-command's obstructed view of the airspeed indicator.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 1999 · about 7:55 pm local time
- Place
- Galena, Alaska · Galena · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N1808T · no longer on the register · serial 28-7125161
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The first pilot, seated in the right seat, was interested in purchasing a one-half interest from the airplane owner and second pilot, seated in the left seat. Both pilots reported that the first pilot was manipulating the controls as the airplane approached for landing on runway 25. They said that about 4 feet above the runway, the nose of the airplane suddenly dropped. The nose landing gear contacted the runway hard, and collapsed. They reported that the airplane slid to a stop, and they both escaped from the airplane, which was then consumed by a postcrash fire. In his written statement to the NTSB, the first pilot added that while seated on the right side of the airplane, it was difficult to read the airspeed indicator that was positioned on the far left side on the instrument panel. Both pilots noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 349 hours in all; 230 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,971 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 31, 1998; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: GAL at 1:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 7,254 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.