# NTSB ANC03LA079: Piper PA-20, N7699K, Wasilla, AK, July 15, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 14, 2003, 20:10 local (Jul 15, 2003, 04:10 UTC) - Place: Wasilla, AK - Coordinates: 61.571666, -149.540283 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5717&lon=-149.5403&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Anchorage FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 57496 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57496/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA079 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in the airplane's collision with a ditch, and the collapse of the 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) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the landing roll, the tailwheel-equipped airplane veered to the left. He said he overcorrected, and the airplane veered sharply to the right, exited the right side of the runway, and collided with a ditch. He indicated that the landing gear subsequently collapsed, and the wings and fuselage sustained substantial damage. ## Factual narrative On July 14, 2003, about 2010 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel-equipped Piper PA-20 airplane, N7699K, sustained substantial damage when it exited the runway during the landing roll, and collided with a ditch at the Wasilla Airport, Wasilla, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The private pilot and sole passenger were not injured. The flight departed the Anderson Lake Airstrip, Wasilla, about 2010, visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on July 15, the pilot said during the landing roll, the airplane veered to the left. He said he overcorrected, and the airplane veered sharply to the right, exited the right side of the runway, and collided with a ditch. He said the landing gear collapsed, and the wings and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot said prior to the accident there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7699K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7699K-2017-07-18), registration cancelled 2017-07-18, S/N 20-520, built 1950 (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: 20-520 - Engines: Lycoming O320B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John Boyd - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 13, 2002, 20 hours before - Departed: 0AK1, Anderson Lake, AK - Destination: PAWS, Wasilla, AK - Airport: PAWS, Wasilla, runway 21, 3,700 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; flight engineer, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 10, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 1,150 total, 55 in this make and model, 950 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F ## 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 20030714037329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030714037329A), Jul 14, 2003: Piper PA20, Wsilla, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) A/c sustained substantial damage when it exited the runway during the landing roll and collided with a ditch at the Wasilla airport. The pilot said after… ## Other investigations on N7699K (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 UNK64X1208](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X1208), Apr 7, 1964: Piper PA20 (N7699K), King Cove, AK, substantial damage 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.