# NTSB ANC01LA089: Piper PA-16, N5280H, Anchorage, AK, July 20, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 20, 2001, 12:57 local (20:57 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.214443, -149.846115 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2144&lon=-149.8461&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 52805 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52805/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA089 ## Probable cause An inadvertent ground loop during the landing roll. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane, and during the landing roll, the airplane ground looped to the right. The left main landing gear axle fractured and the left wing struck the runway. The left wing was buckled upward about 15 degrees, just outboard of the wing lift strut attach point. The leading edge at the outboard end of the left elevator was crushed aft and buckled upward. ## Factual narrative On July 20, 2001, at 1257 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Piper PA-16 airplane, N5280H, sustained substantial damage during landing on runway 33, at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) business flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), was notified of the accident by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control personnel at the Merrill Field tower. Tower personnel reported the airplane was landing on runway 33, and appeared to ground loop to the right. The airplane's left main landing gear assembly appeared to be broken, and the left wing struck the runway. The airplane was disabled on the runway. On July 23, the NTSB IIC inspected the airplane at Merrill Field. The visual inspection of the airplane revealed that the left wing was buckled upward about 15 degrees, just outboard of the wing lift strut attach point. The leading edge at the outboard end of the left elevator was crushed aft and buckled upward. The left main landing gear axle was fractured. At 1253, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting in part: Wind, 320 degrees (true) at 4 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, few at 1,500 feet, 6,000 feet overcast; temperature, 63 degrees F; dew point, 57 degrees F; altimeter, 29.87 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5280H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5280H-2018-12-01), registration cancelled 2018-12-01, S/N 16-84 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-16 - Registry model: [Piper PA-16](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-16) (registry code 7101602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 16-84 - Engines: LYCOMING O-290 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Roland G. Elledge - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PT. POSSESSION, AK - Destination: PAMR, ANCHORAGE, AK - Airport: PAMR, Merrill Field, runway 33, 2,640 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 3,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 295° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: PAMR ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010720039839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010720039839A), Jul 20, 2001: Piper PA16, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (-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… ## Other investigations on N5280H (2) 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 ANC06LA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06LA118), Aug 19, 2006: Piper PA-16 (N5280H), Chugiak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to properly preflight the airplane and remove all water from the fuel system, which resulted in a loss of engine power during takeoff/initial climb, and subsequent loss of… - [NTSB ANC98LA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA068), Jun 9, 1998: Piper PA-16 (N5280H), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadvertent ground loop. 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. --- 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.