Piper PA-32-300 Accident at Pangkor Airport, Malaysia (9M-AVN)

Overview and Flight History On 15 November 2015, a Piper PA-32-300 with registration 9M-AVN was involved in an accident at Pangkor Airport (WMPA) in Perak, Malaysia. The aircraft, operated by Excel Bond Leisure Air Sdn Bhd and owned by Ever Success Auto Ltd, was attempting to take off from the airport's 800-meter runway. The flight was intended to return to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (WMSA) in Subang. The aircraft had arrived the previous day and was parked overnight in the dispersal area, covered with a tarpaulin. ## Accident Sequence The pilot-in-command (PIC) and co-pilot, both holding valid private pilot licenses, conducted pre-flight checks and a STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) protocol without observing any abnormalities. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft reached its rotate velocity of approximately 70 knots about 600 meters down the runway. The PIC reported that the aircraft initially began to climb but then descended back onto the runway. As the aircraft reached the end of the runway, which is elevated approximately 15 feet above the perimeter fencing, the PIC pulled back on the controls to lift the aircraft. The tail clipped the top of the airport perimeter fence, causing the aircraft to nose-dive into the shallow waters of the sea and flip over. ## Injuries and Damage All four occupants—two crew members and two passengers—egressed from the aircraft through the cabin doors with only minor injuries. The PIC sustained a split lower lip, while the co-pilot had minor cuts and bruises. Both passengers strained their shoulders and backs. The aircraft came to rest inverted in about two meters of water. The propellers were bent, the left wingtip was heavily damaged, and tail debris was scattered on the roadside and beach. The cabin remained largely intact, facilitating safe egress. Additional damage to the nose-wheel assembly, engine cowlings, and tail section occurred during recovery efforts by local authorities. ## Investigation and Conclusion The Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of Malaysia investigated the accident. No distress call was made, and the aircraft was not equipped with flight recorders. The engine ingested seawater, and fuel and fluid samples were drained during recovery, preventing further testing. The AAIB classified the accident as Unknown / System Component Failure – Power Plant (UNK / SCF–PP), noting that contributing factors remained unknown due to the inability to conduct engine and fluid tests.