Piper PA31 N9FW accident near Fairbanks, Alaska

Probable cause

The pilot's continuation of an unstabilized approach and his failure to monitor the aircraft's altitude and airspeed during the approach, resulting in a loss of control.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that, after entering the traffic pattern before landing, the local tower controller asked him if he could accept a short approach to the arriving runway to accommodate other arriving traffic, and the pilot accepted. As the pilot maneuvered the airplane from the base leg to final approach, he allowed the airplane to descend below the intended glidepath, and he inadvertently allowed the airplanes airspeed to decay. As the airplane passed over the runway threshold, it rolled to the left, and the left wing struck the runway. The pilot momentarily aborted the landing but landed the airplane on a gravel covered airstrip, which was straight ahead and a short distance away. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC24LA074 for the full record.