# Accident 20010720039839A: Piper PA16, Anchorage, AK, July 20, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 20, 2001, 12:00 local time
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Airport: Merrill Field Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.2144° N, 149.8461° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2144&lon=-149.8461&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5280H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5280H-2018-12-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-16 (registry code 7101602, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA16
- Reported engine: LYC O235*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC01LA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA089) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010720039839A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON JUNE 20, 2001 AT 1315 ADT, A WHEEL EQUIPPED PIPER PA-16 AIRPLANE, N5280H, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING LANDING AT MERRILL FIELD, ANCHORAGE ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) PERSONAL FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT AND REPORTED NO INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED ABOUT 1215 FROM A REMOTE FISHING SITE LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ANCHORAGE, ALASKA. UPON LANDING RUNWAY 33 THE PILOT LOST CONTROL AND THE AIRCRAFT "GROUND LOOPED" CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING AND LEFT MAIN WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THE MERRILL FIELD WEATHER WAS REPORTED AS WIND, 320 DEGREES AT 4 KNOTS; VISIBILITY 10 STATUTE MILES; CLOUDS, FEW AT 1500', OVERCAST AT 6000.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC01LA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA089), Jul 20, 2001: Piper PA-16 (N5280H), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: An inadvertent ground loop during the landing roll.

## Other reports on N5280H (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20060819017899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060819017899A), Aug 19, 2006: Piper PA16 (N5280H), Chugiak, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) A float equipped Piper PA-16 departed mirror lake airport one mile north of eagle river Alaska with the pilot [privacy data omitted], wife and family…
- [Accident 19980609012849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980609012849A), Jun 9, 1998: Piper PA16 (N5280H), Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Ground looped off runway landing. Damaged left wing. Collapsed left main gear.(-23) on June 9, 1998, about 1233 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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