# Accident 20200822015369A: Piper PA-22-150, Talkeetna, AK, August 22, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 22, 2020, 10:00 local time
- Place: Talkeetna, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 62.3669° N, 147.4836° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.3669&lon=-147.4836&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3251Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3251Z) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-22-150 (registry code 7102210, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (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-22-150
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 159 total, 64 in this make and model, 61 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC20CA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA087) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200822015369A

## Narrative

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

INVESTIGATION:  THE AIRMAN LANDED ON AN UNIMPROVED SURFACE (RIVER BED GRAVEL BAR).  AFTER LANDING, HE WALKED THE TAKEOFF PATH TO REMOVE ANY AND ALL LOGS/ROCKS OF SIZE AND CHECK WIND DIRECTION. AFTER DETERMINING DEPARTURE DIRECTION, BASED ON WIND DIRECTION, HE TAXIED TO THE OTHER END OF THE GRAVEL BAR.  TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ALTITUDE AND RUNWAY LENGTH, THE PILOT DETERMINED IT WAS SAFE FOR DEPARTURE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS PROPERLY CONFIGURED FOR TAKEOFF (FLAPS, POWER, MIXTURE).  ON ROTATION, THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE THEN SETTLED BACK TO THE SURFACE AND BOUNCED.  THE PLANE WAS PAST THE POINT OF THE CALCULATED GO/NO GO POINT.  AFTER THE BOUNCE, IT BECAME AIRBORNE FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN STARTED TO DESCEND AGAIN BOUNCING AGAIN WITH NO RUNWAY LEFT. THE PLANE WAS AIRBORNE AND GAINING ALTITUDE WHEN FOR A THIRD TIME IT DECENDED INTO MUCH LARGER ROCKS AND FLIPPED INTO THE RIVER.

## 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 ANC20CA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA087), Aug 22, 2020: Piper PA22 (N3251Z), Lake Louise, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to takeoff in shifting winds from a remote unimproved gravel bar, which resulted in a failure to attain an airspeed suitable for flight and a loss of control.

## Other reports on N3251Z (1)

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

- [Incident 20010701015699I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010701015699I), Jul 1, 2001: Piper PA22150 (N3251Z), Lewistown, MT, Minor damage. (-23) Pilot stated that he elected to abort takeoff shortly after lift-off, lost directional control during rollout. Aircraft departed runway, collapsing left…

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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