Piper PA-32-301 N81052 accident near Cold Bay, Alaska

Probable cause

An in-flight encounter with unforecast turbulence, which resulted in structural damage to the stabilator.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that while descending toward his destination, the airplane encountered severe turbulence of short duration. After the turbulence passed, he made an uneventful landing at his destination airport. A postaccident examination of the airplane discovered substantial damage to the stabilator.

The wind at the destination airport was reported as 310 degrees at 9 knots, the area forecast valid at the time of the turbulence encounter forecast no significant turbulence, and there were no pilot reports of turbulence. The pilot indicated that prior to the severe turbulence; there had been no significant turbulence during the flight.

An examination of the stabilator showed that the right half was bent downward 5 to 10 degrees outboard of the fuselage attachments. No evidence of fatigue or corrosion was found.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC11LA027 for the full record.