20061022029459A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-20-135 · Anchorage, AK · October 22, 2006

Date: October 22, 2006 · 17:30 local
Place: Anchorage, AK
Airport: Merrill Field Airport
Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N3404A
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC07CA004
Reported as: Piper PA20135
Reported engine: Lycoming O290
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,750 total150 in this make and model40 in the last 90 days

N3404ARegistered now · Piper PA-20-135S/N 20-1069 · Built 1953 Airframe modelPiper PA-20-135 Engine modelLycoming 0-290 series4 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) The pilot stated while he was attempting a landing on runway 25 at the Merrill Field Airport (mri) Alaska, the aircraft veered sharply to the right off the runway. He stated as the aircraft veered he attempted countering the turn with rudder and brake applications, but the aircraft left the runway and ground looped. During the event the left wingtip was damaged as it contacted the ground. In addition, the left elevator, left lower fuselage longeron and left landing gear were damaged. The pilot stated the brakes were probably not as effective as they should have been. He also stated that during the time of landing the wind was eighty (80) degrees to the right front of the aircraft at approximately ten (10) knots.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) THE PILOT STATED WHILE HE WAS ATTEMPTING A LANDING ON RUNWAY 25 AT THE MERRILL FIELD AIRPORT (MRI) ALASKA, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT OFF THE RUNWAY. HE STATED AS THE AIRCRAFT VEERED HE ATTEMPTED COUNTERING THE TURN WITH RUDDER AND BRAKE APPLICATIONS, BUT THE AIRCRAFT LEFT THE RUNWAY AND GROUND LOOPED. DURING THE EVENT THE LEFT WINGTIP WAS DAMAGED AS IT CONTACTED THE GROUND. IN ADDITION, THE LEFT ELEVATOR, LEFT LOWER FUSELAGE LONGERON AND LEFT LANDING GEAR WERE DAMAGED. THE PILOT STATED THE BRAKES WERE PROBABLY NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN. HE ALSO STATED THAT DURING THE TIME OF LANDING THE WIND WAS EIGHTY (80) DEGREES TO THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT AT APPROXIMATELY TEN (10) KNOTS.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC07CA004Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportAnchorage, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop and encounter with terrain. Factors associated with the accident were the ground loop and inadequate main wheel brakes.Oct 23, 2006 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N3404A · 1

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

Accident 19820226001029AGround Taxi, Other Airplane · Bethel, AKSki-equipped aircraft landing gear collapsed while it was taxiing to parking area.Feb 26, 1982 · Substantial damage