Piper PA30 accident near Homer, Alaska, September 12, 2020
On September 12, 2020 at about 4:43 am local time, a 1965 Piper PA30, registered N7669Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Homer, Alaska (Homer 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’s improper flare which resulted in a hard bounced landing and runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 12, 2020 · about 4:43 am local time
- Place
- Homer, Alaska · Homer Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA30, built 1965 · all PA30s on the register
- Registration
- N7669Y · no longer on the register · serial 30-746
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was seated in the right seat and the pilot-rated passenger of a twin-engine airplane was in the left seat. During the approach for landing, the pilot had his hand on the throttles and was providing input on the flight controls. The pilot-rated passenger reported that she also was giving some input on the controls with the pilot coaching her. The pilot reported that before landing, he asked the passenger to assure that her feet were not on the pedals. The passenger reported that on touchdown, the airplane bounced, and she released her hands from the controls so that she would not interfere with the pilot’s actions. The pilot reported that after the airplane touched down the second time, the airplane veered to the left. He added full right rudder input then added full power to the left engine in an attempt to regain control. Braking action is not available from the right seat position. Despite his actions the airplane exited the left side of the runway and came to rest in a ditch. The aft empennage separated, and the wings were substantially damaged. The extent of damage was consistent with a hard landing. The brakes were not examined.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- 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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,426 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 4,045 as pilot in command; 2,528 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 30, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,650 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,381 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-320 SERIES (piston); 5,650 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-320 SERIES (piston); 5,650 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ANC Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 6,701 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.36 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on December 9, 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, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot-rated Passenger's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Email-piper Aircraft Information, Single Position Brake Assembly | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Piper PA-30 POH Excerpt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array-courtesy of the Airport Manager | PDF, 11 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.