Accident Occurrence
On January 4, 2011, at approximately 1530 Alaska standard time, a Piper PA-32-300, registration N9304K, operated by Alaska Island Air Taxi Inc., as a VFR on-demand passenger flight under 14 CFR Part 135, landed at Platinum Airport in Platinum, Alaska. The aircraft sustained substantial damage during the landing. 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 had departed from Goodnews Airport, Goodnews Bay, Alaska, approximately 11 miles northeast of Platinum.
Airport Manager's Report
On January 11, 2011, the NTSB investigator-in-charge spoke with the Platinum Airport manager. The manager reported that he was at the airport on the day of the accident and arrived at the site shortly after the occurrence. He stated that he had spoken with several witnesses who observed the airplane fly over the field, line up with the old runway, and land. The manager explained that the airport features a new 3,300-foot lighted runway that had been operational for about two years. The end of the old runway nearest the new runway serves as a parallel taxiway for the new runway. The remainder of the old runway had been abandoned, plowed up, and marked on the unused end with red panels forming an "X". On the day of the accident, both the old runway and its red panels were covered with snow. The new runway had about one inch of snow, and its lights were set to the highest intensity. Visibility was 10 miles under a 1,000-foot overcast ceiling, and the wind was calm. According to the manager, after landing on the closed portion of the old runway, the airplane struck a ditch or berm where the old runway transitioned to the elevated taxiway for the new runway. The manager noted that the pilot did not offer an explanation for choosing to land on the old runway.
Pilot's Report
In a written statement to the NTSB dated January 14, 2011, the pilot reported that approximately three miles from the airport, he used the airplane's radio to activate the runway lights. He indicated that he flew over the airport and saw the windsock but did not see the runway lights. The pilot stated that the landing roll was smooth until the airplane came to a sudden stop upon striking the berm. In his report, he listed the damage as substantial but did not specify the nature of the damage. Photographs published by local media depict substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage of the accident airplane.
Passenger's Account
During a telephone interview with the NTSB IIC on February 1, 2011, a passenger seated on the left side behind the pilot stated that she was familiar with the airport and saw the lights of the lighted runway as they flew over. She recalled that when the pilot aligned with the old runway, she wondered why he was landing there but did not voice her concern to the pilot.