# Accident 20190720015579A: Piper PA-19, Skwentna, AK, July 20, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 20, 2019, 16:00 local time
- Place: Skwentna, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.6878° N, 151.4008° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6878&lon=-151.4008&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6PF, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6PF) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-19 (registry code 7101902, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-19) (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-19
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 8,068 total, 3,735 in this make and model, 170 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC19TA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC19TA037) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190720015579A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 20, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 1500 LOCAL TIME, N6PF HAD DEPARTED LHD AND CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND AT A CABIN NEAR TALACHULITNA RIVER, ALASKA (75NM NW OF ANCHORAGE AK). THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATING UNDER 14 CFR PART 91.

THERE WERE A SINGLE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER ON BOARD.  THE PASSENGER, RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES.  BOTH WERE TRANSPORTED VIA HELICOPTER TO ANCHORAGE.

THE PILOT REPORTED THE DAY WAS WARM AND HE EXPECTED GUSTING WINDS AND THERMAL ACTIVITY AT THE LANDING SITE.  HE FLEW OVER THE LANDING SITE TO VIEW THE WINDSOCK WHICH FAVORED A NORTH LANDING.  HE ADJUSTED HIS APPROACH SPEED BY ADDING 10 KNOTS DUE TO EXPECTED GUST FACTOR.

HE REPORTED THAT ON SHORT FINAL THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BEGAN TO LOSE AUTHORITY AND HE RECOGNIZED THE WIND HAD SHIFTED TO A TAIL WIND.  HE ADDED FULL POWER AND COMMENCED TO PERFORM A GO-AROUND. ALTHOUGH HE WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE PLANE FROM STALLING HE WAS UNABLE TO GAIN ENOUGH AIRSPEED TO HAVE POSITIVE INPUT TO THE CONTROLS.

THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED 30 DEGREES TO THE LEFT AND DEPARTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.  THE PILOT CONTINUED TO TRY TO CORRECT THE LEFT TURNING TENDENCY ALL THE WAY UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A LARGE BIRCH TREE NEAR GROUND LEVEL.

THE IMPACT WAS IN FRONT OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR AND STOPPED THE AIRCRAFT IMMEDIATELY WITH THE LEFT WING TIP AND TAIL RESTING ON THE GROUND.  THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO EGRESS, THE PASSENGER WAS EXTRACTED BY EMERGENCY RESPONDERS.

## 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 ANC19TA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC19TA037), Jul 21, 2019: Piper PA19 (N6PF), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control during a go-around and his failure to assess the wind conditions appropriately before a landing attempt.

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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