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October 18, 2019 · Saab 2000 No Series · N686PA

Unalaska, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 18, 2019
Injury Outcomes
5 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury, 3 minor injuries), 37 uninjured
Location
Unalaska, AK
Aircraft
Saab 2000 No Series (1995)
Tail Number
N686PA
Operator
Peninsula Aviationservices
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DCA20MA002

On October 17, 2019, about 1740 Alaska daylight time, PenAir flight 3296, a Saab 2000, N686PA, overran the runway while landing at the Thomas Madsen Airport (PADU), Unalaska, Alaska. The airplane passed through the airport perimeter fence, crossed a road, and came to rest on shoreline rocks. Of the 42 passengers and crewmembers on board, 1 passenger was fatally injured, and several other passengers sustained serious or minor injuries. The airplane received substantial damage. The regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from Ted Stevens International Airport (KANC), Anchorage, Alaska, to PADU.

NTSB Probable Cause

The landing gear manufacturer’s incorrect wiring of the wheel speed transducer harnesses on the left main landing gear during overhaul. The incorrect wiring caused the antiskid system not to function as intended, resulting in the failure of the left outboard tire and a significant loss of the airplane’s braking ability, which led to the runway overrun. Contributing to the accident were (1) Saab’s design of the wheel speed transducer wire harnesses, which did not consider and protect against human error during maintenance; (2) the Federal Aviation Administration’s lack of consideration of the runway safety area dimensions at Unalaska Airport during the authorization process that allowed the Saab 2000 to operate at the airport; and (3) the flight crewmembers’ inappropriate decision, due to their plan continuation bias, to land on a runway with a reported tailwind that exceeded the airplane manufacturer’s limit. The safety margin was further reduced because of PenAir’s failure to correctly apply its company-designated pilot-in-command airport qualification policy, which allowed the accident captain to operate at one of the most challenging airports in PenAir’s route system with limited experience at the airport and in the Saab 2000 airplane.

Full Narrative

On October 17, 2019, about 1740 Alaska daylight time, PenAir flight 3296, a Saab 2000, N686PA, overran the runway while landing at the Thomas Madsen Airport (PADU), Unalaska, Alaska. The airplane passed through the airport perimeter fence, crossed a road, and came to rest on shoreline rocks. Of the 42 passengers and crewmembers on board, 1 passenger was fatally injured, and several other passengers sustained serious or minor injuries. The airplane received substantial damage. The regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from Ted Stevens International Airport (KANC), Anchorage, Alaska, to PADU.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:40 AKDT
Nearest AirportUNALASKA (0nm SE)
Runway13
Runway Length4500 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSaab 2000 No Series
Tail NumberN686PA
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorPeninsula Aviationservices
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsRolls-Royce · AE2001A · Turboprop · 3738 | Rolls-Royce · AE2001A · Turboprop · 3738
Seats48

People & Injuries

Injury Summary5 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury, 3 minor injuries), 37 uninjured
Fatal1
Serious1
Minor3
Uninjured37
Total42
Crew 1Age 56 · First Class · None
Crew 2Age 39 · First Class · None
Crew 3None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingBroken clouds 3900 ft
Temperature / Dew Point43 C / 36 C
Altimeter29.52 inHg
Observation Time17:56

Appendix: Source Data