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GAA19CA174

2019-03-21 · Atmautluak, Alaska, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 4A2

Current FAA registration · N5544F

Make / Model
PIPER PA-32R-300
Year of manufacture
1976 · 43 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5D (300 hp)
Seats / Engines
7 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19761018
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A71131

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The airplane's encounter with a snow-covered pothole during taxi.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that while taxiing to the runway for departure, he felt a "large bump." The pilot immediately shutdown the engine and inspected the airplane. He identified damage to the right wing and landing gear. The pilot further reported that he inspected the taxiway after he saw the airplane's damage, and the large bump he felt was the right landing gear encounter with a snow-covered pothole. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, while taxiing to the runway for departure, he felt a "large bump." The pilot immediately shut down the engine and inspected the airplane. He identified damage to the right wing and landing gear. The pilot further reported that he inspected the taxiway after he saw the airplane's damage and noted that the large bump he felt was due to the right landing gear's encounter with a snow-covered pothole. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Hidden/submerged object-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2019_GAA19CA174.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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