Piper PA-60-602P accident near Pago Pago, Aq, September 20, 1991
On September 20, 1991 at about 3:14 am local time, a Piper PA-60-602P, registered VHUYX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pago Pago (Pago Pago Intl. airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE WHEEL/GEAR STEERING SYSTEM. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL FOLLOWING THE LOSS OF STEERING EFFECTIVENESS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 1991 · about 3:14 am local time
- Place
- Pago Pago, Antarctica · Pago Pago Intl.
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-60-602P · all PA-60-602Ps on the register
- Registration
- VHUYX · no longer on the register · serial 60-8265003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING LANDING ROLLOUT THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH BUSHES AND A STORM DRAIN. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ALL SYSTEMS HAD OPERATED NORMALLY EARLIER IN THE FLIGHT. THE REASON FOR THE MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE NOSE WHEEL/GEAR STEERING SYSTEM WAS NOT ESTABLISHED.
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: commercial pilot, foreign licence
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,650 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 3,550 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AA15 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Apollo Air P/L
The flight
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 5, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.