PenAir Flight 3296

PenAir Flight 3296 was a domestic scheduled flight from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, in Anchorage, Alaska, to Unalaska Airport, on Amaknak Island off the coast of Alaska. On October 17, 2019, the Saab 2000 operating the flight overran the runway after landing at its destination airport. One passenger suffered fatal injuries due to a propeller blade penetrating the fuselage. Of the other 41 passengers and crew on board, two were seriously injured and ten suffered minor injuries. The 24-year-old aircraft, a SAAB 2000, was substantially damaged during the accident.[1] As of December 23, 2020 (1 year, 4 months after accident), the aircraft remains in storage.[2]

PenAir Flight 3296
The Saab 2000 after leaving the runway of Unalaska Airport
Accident
DateOctober 17, 2019
SummaryRunway excursion; Under Investigation
SiteUnalaska Airport, Amaknak Island, Alaska
Aircraft
Aircraft typeSaab 2000
OperatorPenAir
RegistrationN686PA
Flight originTed Stevens Anchorage International Airport
DestinationUnalaska Airport
Occupants42
Passengers39
Crew3
Fatalities1
Injuries12
Survivors41

Accident

On the day of the accident the aircraft had departed from Anchorage at 15:15 AST and was due to land at Unalaska 2 hours and 15 minutes later. While the flight was descending towards Unalaska they were cleared for the RNAV approach into runway 13, a 4,501-foot-long (1,372 m) runway. But as the aircraft approached the airport, the wind changed from 210 degrees at 8 knots to 180 degrees at 7 knots. During the approach though, the winds were reported 270 degrees at 10 knots. The aircraft became unstable during the approach and a go-around was executed leading to the flight returning for another, this time, visual approach into runway 13. During this, the wind speed increased and the controller reported that winds were 300 degrees at 24 knots.

The crew decided to continue with the landing and touched down at 17:40. The aircraft landed 1,001 feet (305 m) down the runway with reverse thrust and wheel braking inputs by the captain. When the aircraft reached 80 knots, maximum braking was applied. As an overrun was imminent, the pilots steered the aircraft right to avoid going into the water past the runway end. Attempts to stop on the paved runway surface failed leading to the aircraft crossing a section of grass, followed by breaking through a chain perimeter fence, then crossing a ditch. The aircraft struck a large rock, crossed a public roadway, and finally came to a stop on the shore of a small lake. The port wing struck a 4'-5' signal post. This caused the port-side (left) propeller to shatter, sending debris and large pieces of the propeller blade into the fuselage. One of the blades was found inside of the cabin. 3 passengers were critically injured and another 10 had to receive medical care. One of the critically injured passengers died a day later. [1]

Investigation

On the day of the accident, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), launched an investigation which as of January 2021 is still ongoing.[3]

See also

References
  1. Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Saab 2000 N686PA Unalaska-Tom Madsen Airport, AK (DUT)". aviation-safety.net.
  2. "N686PA PenAir Saab 2000". www.planespotters.net. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
  3. "Accident: Pen SB20 at Unalaska on Oct 17th 2019, overran runway on landing". avherald.com.
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