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. Of the 42 passengers and crew on board, one passenger was fatally injured when a propeller blade penetrated the fuselage, one was seriously injured and ten suffered minor injuries. The 24-year-old aircraft, a SAAB 2000, was substantially damaged during the accident. As of late 2020, the aircraft remains in storage.

Accident
On the day of the accident, the aircraft departed from Anchorage at 15:15 AST and was due to land at Unalaska two hours and 15 minutes later. While descending toward Unalaska, the crew received clearance for a RNAV approach to Runway 13, a 4,501-foot-long (1,372 m) runway. As the aircraft approached the airport, the wind changed from 210 degrees at eight knots to 180 degrees at seven knots, but was reported as 270 degrees at 10 knots. The aircraft became unstable and a go-around was executed. The flight returned for a visual approach onto Runway 13. 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, and the aircraft crossed a section of grass and then broke through a chain perimeter fence and crossed 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. Two passengers were critically injured and another 10 had to receive medical care. One of the critically injured passengers died a day later.

Investigaton
On the day of the accident, the National Transportation Safety Board launched an investigation, which is still ongoing as of April 2021.