TOGIAK, AK, USA
N8212H
PIPER PA-32-301
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING AN APPROACH TO RUNWAY 30, HE INTENTIONALLY TRIED TO LAND OFF-CENTER TO AVOID A SOFT AREA; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED 'UNKNOWINGLY' TO THE LEFT. JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A GUST OR 'EDDY' AND ROLLED LEFT. THE LEFT WING DRAGGED IN TALL GRASS ON A SANDY BANK BESIDE THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE THEN TOUCHED DOWN AND VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND DAMAGED THE FIREWALL. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE WIND WAS BLOWING FROM THE WEST AT 17 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 21 KNOTS.
On August 14, 1995, at 1115 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-32-301 airplane, N8212H, registered to and operated by PenAir of Anchorage, Alaska, ran off the side of the runway during landing at the Togiak Fishery Airstrip located near Togiak, Alaska. The positioning flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Togiak and the destination was the Togiak Fisheries Airstrip. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company visual flight rules flight plan was in effect. The airline transport certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. During a telephone conversation with the Director of Operations on August 14, 1995, he stated that the pilot was landing the airplane to one side of the center of runway 30 because of the runway's soft condition. Just prior to touchdown the airplane rolled to the left and the left wing hit the tall grass on a sand bank adjacent to the runway. The airplane touched down and veered off the runway. The nose gear collapsed and was pushed rearward into the firewall. According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, he said that during the landing flare the airplane "unknowingly" began to drift to the left. Just prior to touchdown the pilot stated he encountered either a wind gust or "eddy" which caused the airplane to roll to the left. There is no official weather observation facility at the Togiak Fisheries Airstrip, however, the pilot reported the winds to be from the west at 17 knots with gusts to 21 knots.
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE INTENDED POINT OF LANDING. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITION.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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