On May 3, 2001, a Piper PA-32-300 (registration N4089W) operated by Bellair, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Chefornak, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the final approach in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a stall and hard landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 10 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A commercial air taxi pilot reported stalling the aircraft during final approach for a landing on a gravel runway in crosswinds, resulting in a hard landing and substantial damage to the airplane.
What happened
The pilot of a commercial air taxi operation was conducting an approach to land on a gravel runway. Conditions at the time included a direct crosswind component of approximately 15 knots. During the final phase of the approach, the aircraft experienced a stall. The subsequent touchdown was hard, causing the airplane to depart the side of the runway.
The investigation
Following the incident, the pilot provided details regarding the condition of the aircraft prior to the event. He stated that there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane that contributed to the accident.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the final approach in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a stall and hard landing.