# NTSB ANC03LA047: Piper PA-20, N5589H, Palmer, AK, April 23, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 23, 2003, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Palmer, AK - Coordinates: 61.596111, -149.089172 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5961&lon=-149.0892&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 56873 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA047 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56873/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA047 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop and collapse of the left main landing gear. ## 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 - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was landing a tundra tire-equipped airplane on an asphalt surface runway that was 3,616 feet long and 75 feet wide. The pilot said that during the landing roll, the airplane began to veer left and right, and he added engine power to control the airplane. The pilot indicated that the airplane departed off the runway surface to the right, and then ground looped to the right. The left main landing gear collapsed inward and upward, and the left wingtip struck the ground. The airplane received damage to the left landing gear and fuselage structure, the left wing lift strut, and left wingtip. The pilot reported the wind was from the south-southwest at 5 knots. ## Factual narrative On April 23, 2003, about 1330 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-20 airplane, N5589H, sustained substantial damage when it departed off the right side of the runway and ground looped during the landing roll at the Palmer Municipal Airport, Palmer, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot/owner. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Birchwood Airport, Chugiak, Alaska, at 1315. No flight plan was filed, nor was one required. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on April 23, the pilot reported that he was landing on runway 27 at the Palmer Airport. Runway 27 has an asphalt surface and is 3,616 feet long and 75 feet wide. The pilot said that during the landing roll, the airplane began to veer left and right, and he added engine power to control the airplane. The pilot indicated that the airplane departed off the runway surface to the right, and then ground looped to the right. The left main landing gear collapsed inward and upward, and the left wingtip struck the ground. The airplane received damage to the left landing gear and fuselage structure, the left wing lift strut, and left wingtip. The pilot reported the wind was from the south-southwest at 5 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5589H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5589H), registered now, S/N 20-651, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-20 - Registry model: [Piper PA-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20) (registry code 7102002) (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: 20-651 - Airframe hours: 912 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Craig E. Walters - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 26, 2002, 25 hours before - Departed: PABV, CHUGIAK, AK - Destination: PAAQ, PALMER, AK - Airport: PAAQ, Palmer Municipal, runway 27, 3,616 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 31, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,280 total, 95 in this make and model, 1,180 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 5 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F ## Other investigations on N5589H (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 GAA16CA252](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA252), May 19, 2016: Piper PA 20 (N5589H), Nikolai Creek, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area resulting in an airplane nose over during the takeoff roll. 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.