# NTSB ANC04LA072: Piper PA-22-160, N9038D, Beluga, AK, June 29, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 29, 2004, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Beluga, AK - Coordinates: 55.920448, -159.490829 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.9204&lon=-159.4908&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Anchorage, FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 59581 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04LA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59581/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA072 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable area for landing, which resulted in an on ground encounter with rocks during the landing roll, and the collapse of the left main landing gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - rock(s)/boulder(s) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear - collapsed ## Analysis During the landing roll at a remote airstrip, the pilot reported the airplane had slowed to about 25 knots, when the left main wheel collided with large rocks lining the left side of the landing area. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing and propeller struck the ground. The left wing lift strut and wing were damaged, as were the propeller and fuselage. There were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On June 29, 2004, about 1530 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-22-160 airplane, N9038D, sustained substantial damage when its left main landing gear collided with rocks during the landing roll at the Beluga Lake airstrip, 35 miles northwest of Beluga, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The airline transport pilot and the sole passenger were not injured. The flight originated at the Birchwood Airport, Birchwood, Alaska, about 1445. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on July 1, the pilot said during the landing roll the airplane had slowed to about 25 knots, when the left main wheel collided with large rocks lining the left side of the landing area. He said the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing and propeller struck the ground. The pilot said the left wing lift strut and left wing were damaged, as were the propeller and fuselage. He said there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9038D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9038D), registered now, S/N 22-6176, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-22-160 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-160) (registry code 7102214) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-6176 - Airframe hours: 4037 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4G 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Shane Metcalf - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 19, 2003, 47 hours before - Departed: PAVB, Birchwood, AK - Destination: Beluga, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: Beluga Lake ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; foreign, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 4,214 total, 50 in this make and model, 1,554 as pilot in command, 218 in the last 90 days, 69 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °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 20040629015039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040629015039A), Jun 29, 2004: Piper PA22160, Tyonek, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 29, 2004, about 1530 Alaska daylight time, a PA-22-160 airplane, N9038D, modified with conventional landing gear, and equipped with tundra tires,… ## Other investigations on N9038D (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 DEN83LA205](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83LA205), Aug 23, 1983: Piper PA-22 (N9038D), Alzada, MT, 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.