NTSB Factual Report

On January 4, 2011, about 1530 Alaska standard time, a Piper PA-32-300 airplane, N9304K, sustained substantial damage during landing at the Platinum Airport, Platinum, Alaska. The airplane was operated by Alaska Island Air Taxi Inc., Togiak, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand passenger flight under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 135, when the accident occurred. The commercial pilot and one of the four passengers were not injured; the remaining three passengers received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight departed Goodnews Airport, Goodnews Bay, Alaska, about 11 miles northeast of Platinum.

On January 11, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) called the Platinum Airport manager. The manager said he was at the airport the day of the accident, and arrived at the accident site moments afterward. He said he had spoken with several individuals who saw the airplane fly over the field, lineup with the old runway and land. The manager said the airport has a new 3300 foot lighted runway that has been open about 2 years. He said the end of the old runway nearest the new runway is now a parallel taxiway for the new runway. The remainder of the old runway was abandoned, plowed up, and marked on the unused end with red panels making an "X". He said that on the day of the accident, the old runway and its red panels were covered with snow. He said there was about 1 inch of snow on the new runway, and the runway lights were on the highest intensity setting. He noted the visibility was 10 miles, under a 1,000 foot overcast, and the wind was calm. After landing on the closed portion of the old runway, the airport manager said the airplane struck a ditch/berm where a portion of the old runway became an elevated taxiway for the new runway. He said the pilot did not offer an explanation as to why he elected to land on the old runway.

In a written statement to the NTSB dated January 14, the pilot reported that about 3 miles from the airport he used the airplane’s radio to activate the runway lights. He said he flew over the airport and saw the windsock, but did not see the lights of the runway. He said the landing roll was smooth until the airplane came to a sudden stop when it struck the berm. In the report he listed the damage to the airplane as substantial, but did not note the nature of the damage. Photographs of the accident airplane published by local media show substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage.

During a telephone interview with the NTSB IIC on February 1, the passenger seated on the left side of the airplane behind the pilot said she was familiar with the airport, and that she saw the lights of the lighted runway as they flew over. When the pilot lined up for the old runway, she said she wondered why he was landing on the old runway, but did not say anything to the pilot.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's misidentification of the airport's active runway, resulting in an off-runway landing and collision with a ditch/berm.