Accident Details
On February 21, 2008, at approximately 1950 Alaska Standard time, a Learjet 35A airplane, registration N351AS, sustained substantial damage during the landing flare and touchdown at Aniak Airport, Aniak, Alaska. The aircraft was operated by Chipola Aviation Inc., of Panama City, Florida, as an instrument flight rules (IFR) cross-country aeromedical positioning flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91.
The flight crew consisted of an airline transport certificated captain and a commercial certificated first officer. Three medical crewmembers were also on board. None of the five occupants were injured. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage, Alaska, at about 1905.
Pilot Report
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge on February 22, the pilot, who also serves as the director of operations for the operator, reported that the flight was positioning to Aniak to pick up a patient. He indicated that he was flying the GPS approach for landing on runway 28 and broke out of the cloud base at about 1,200 feet mean sea level (msl), 7 miles from the runway. He was holding approximately 15 to 20 degrees of left crab to maintain alignment with the runway centerline.
The automated weather observing system (AWOS) reported winds as 260 degrees at 4 knots. The pilot experienced light to moderate turbulence during the approach, but no turbulence from about 1,000 to 100 feet msl. He stated that he felt a strong crosswind over the runway threshold, and during the flare, the left wingtip fuel tank contacted the runway. He applied full right aileron and full right rudder, and the airplane touched down on the centerline.
After parking, an inspection of the left wingtip fuel tank revealed scraping and flattening of approximately the aft third of the underside of the tank. The upper surface of the wing, inboard from the tip tank, was wrinkled.
Captain's Report
In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the captain, he reported that during the approach, he utilized a landing approach speed (Vref) of 123 knots. The final approach speed was Vref plus 10 knots. The captain stated that he recalled the first officer reporting "Vref plus 5 [knots]" just before the left wingtip struck the runway.
Airport Information
The FAA's Airport Facility Directory/Alaska Supplement notes that Aniak, elevation 88 feet msl, has a hard-surfaced runway 6,000 feet long and 150 feet wide. The airport is equipped with approach lights, high intensity runway lights, sequenced flashing lights, and a visual approach slope indicator.
At 1956, the AWOS at Aniak reported: wind 270 degrees at 5 knots; visibility 9 statute miles; clouds and sky condition 1,200 feet overcast; temperature 9 degrees F; dew point 4 degrees F; altimeter 29.40 inHg. The FAA Facility Directory/Alaska Supplement notes that "Because of natural obstructions, the AWOS-3 wind may be unrepresentative of runway wind conditions."
Pilot's Recommendation
In the "Recommendation, How could this accident have been prevented" section of the NTSB Form 6120.1, the captain indicated that he thought he "must be more cautious of windshear conditions" and said he could "only assume that windshear contributed to this incident."