# Accident 20150531013389A: Piper PA-22, Skwentna, AK, May 31, 2015 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: May 31, 2015, 20:00 local time - Place: Skwentna, AK - Airport: Charlie'S Cabin - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Landing: Approach - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 61.7014° N, 150.9361° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7014&lon=-150.9361&mi=10 - Aircraft: N2828P, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2828P) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA-22 (registry code 7102202, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22 - Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Student - Pilot flight hours: 55 total, 55 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC15LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15LA034) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150531013389A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON MAY 31ST, 2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 8PM. THE STUDENT PILOT/PIC HAD PLANNED A GOOSE BAY, TALKEETNA, AND SKWENTNA, ALASKA SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. PIC HAD PLANNED TO PRACTICE APPROACHES, TURNS AROUND A POINT AND SIMILAR MANEUVERS. PIC SAID THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS HE WAS "DRAGGING THE RUNWAY" AT A FRIENDS CABIN THAT IS LOCATED AT 61.791489N, 150.93634W OR ABOUT 3 NM NNW OF ALEXANDER LAKE, ALASKA. ALEXANDER LAKE IS APPROXIMATELY 15NM SE OF THE SKWENTNA AIRPORT. THE PIC STATED HE HAD INTENDED TO LAND AT TALKEETNA BUT THERE HAD BEEN AN ACCIDENT THERE AND HE DIVERTED BECAUSE OF THIS. PIC STATED HIS INTENT WAS TO DRAG THE RUNWAY AT HIS FRIENDS CABIN BECAUSE HE "WASN'T LEGAL TO LAND THERE" BY HIS CFI. HE HAD PLANNED A LOW APPROACH TO THE NORTH WITH A SLIGHT QUARTERING CROSSWIND (HE EST. APPROX 5 KNOTS). AS HE APPROACHED THE RUNWAY, COMING IN OVER THE TREES AND DESCENDING THROUGH AN ESTIMATED 200' HE HAD "1 NOTCH" OF FLAPS EXTENDED, THE MIXTURE WAS SLIGHTLY LEANED WITH CARBURETOR HEAT ON/HOT. THE PIC STATED THE AIRCRAFT "SUNK HARD"--HE ADDED POWER--PERHAPS TOO FAST BY HIS OWN ADMISSION, AND HE BELIEVES THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LOSE POWER. THE PIC IS ALSO A CERTIFICATED MECHANIC AND HAD DONE MUCH OF THE MAINTENANCE ON THE AIRCRAFT. THERE'S AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE FOR THIS AIRCRAFT/ENGINE EQUIPPED WITH SCHEBLER CARBURETOR MODEL MA-4-SPA (#73-09-06) "TO PREVENT POWER INTERRUPTION AND ACCELERATION HANGUP RESULTING FROM ABRUPT THROTTLE MOVEMENT". THERE'S A REQUIRED PLACARD THAT STATES "DO NOT OPEN THROTTLE RAPIDLY -- (IDLE TO FULL THROTTLE, 2 SECONDS MINIMUM". THE PIC'S THEORY FOR THE MISHAP WAS THAT HE WAITED TOO LONG TO APPLY POWER AND THEN APPLIED POWER TOO FAST AND THIS IS WHAT HAD CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LOSE POWER AND HIM TO EVENTUALLY IMPACT THE GROUND. PIC STATED THAT WITH THE THROTTLE FULL IN THE ENGINE WILL DIE AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE ENGINE BACK IS TO BACK THE THROTTLE OFF TO APPROXIMATELY 50% AND WAIT. THE PIC ALSO STATED THAT THIS HAD OCCURRED BEFORE BUT NEVER THIS LOW TO THE GROUND. THE PIC STATED THE AIRCRAFT CAME DOWN HARD, LEFT TRACKS FOR ABOUT 25', BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR AND OVER A DIRT PILE. THE LEFT WING HIT A BIRCH TREE AND CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO SPIN AROUND 180 DEG. BEFORE IT CAME TO A STOP WHICH THE PIC THOUGHT SERIOUSLY SIDE LOADED THE LANDING GEAR. THE PIC STATED HE WAS NOT INJURED EXCEPT FOR A SORE BACK. AFTER HE CAME TO A STOP HE SHUT POWER OFF, AND THEN SHUT THE ELT OFF TO AVOID AN UNNECESSARY RESCUE COORDINATION CENTER RESPONSE. ## 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 ANC15LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15LA034), Jun 1, 2015: Piper PA 22 (N2828P), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to follow the airplane's operating limitations by rapidly opening the throttle, which resulted in a loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to… ## Other reports on N2828P (3) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19890529013139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890529013139A), May 29, 1989: Piper PA22 (N2828P), Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Engine quit. Nosed over landing on a river gravel bar. Engine case had cracked. - [Incident 19880628033139I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880628033139I), Jun 28, 1988: Piper PA22 (N2828P), Beluga, AK, Minor damage. Lost directional control on takeoff roll from a road. Veered off road and hit some brush. Landing gear broke off. - [Incident 19880303022909I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880303022909I), Mar 3, 1988: Piper PA22 (N2828P), Anchorage, AK, Minor damage. Lost directional control on a touch and go landing. Veered off runway. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.