Piper PA31 accident near Port Alsworth, Alaska, August 2, 2022
On August 2, 2022 at about 10:40 pm local time, a Piper PA31, registered N317AK, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Port Alsworth, Alaska (Port Alsworth Airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A hard landing that occurred at an unknown time and date, which resulted in substantial damage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 2022 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Port Alsworth, Alaska · Port Alsworth Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA31 350 · all PA31s on the register
- Registration
- N317AK · registry record · serial 31-7752145
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot performed a preflight inspection and departed to his destination. He stated that after a normal approach the left wing “dipped” at touchdown. The airplane subsequently “landed hard” on the left side. After the landing, the pilot shutdown the airplane and requested a company mechanic to inspect the landing gear. A visual examination of the landing gear was performed, but no damage was found. Subsequent examination of the airplane conducted three days later, revealed substantial damage to the fuselage, and left wing consistent with a hard landing. The airplane is also used for training, and it could not be determined if the airplane was flown after the hard landing. The pilot at the time of the hard landing, and the date and time of occurrence was undetermined.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 3,500 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 120 in the last 30 days; 19,800 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAMR Anchorage AK at 4:00 pm
- Destination: PALJ Port Alsworth AK
- Runway 24/6, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 3001.00 inHg
Weather report (METAR): METAR PALJ 022052Z 25007KT 15SM SCT010 BKN020 OVC040 13/11 A3001 RMK EST PASS CLSD NOSPECI=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on February 23, 2023. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.