# NTSB ANC05CA024: Piper PA-19, N5417H, Big Lake, AK, January 22, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 22, 2005, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Big Lake, AK - Coordinates: 61.538055, -149.800003 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5381&lon=-149.8000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 60901 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05CA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60901/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA024 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff/landing/taxi area, which resulted in an on-ground encounter with a berm, a loss of control on the ground, and collapse of the main landing gear. Factors associated with the accident were flat light conditions, and a berm. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - to takeoff - terrain condition - berm (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - other (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - to takeoff - Gear collapsed, taxi - to takeoff - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that he had landed on the frozen lake about an hour before the accident occurred. He said that the surface of the frozen lake was smooth and covered by about 2 inches of fresh snow, and that "flat light conditions" made it very difficult to discern any topographical features on the lake ice. The pilot reported that as he taxied the airplane in preparation for takeoff, it began to slide on the snow-covered ice, and he applied engine power in an attempt to gain effective rudder control. He said that as the airplane gained speed on the ice, the main landing gear wheels struck a large ice ridge, and the airplane was "pitched into the air." The pilot said that in an attempt to land the airplane and regain control, he closed the throttle, and the airplane descended rapidly. The airplane's main wheels struck the lake, and the left main landing gear partially collapsed. The airplane subsequently veered to the left, struck a stand of trees on the left side of the lake, and sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. ## Factual narrative On January 22, 2005, about 1230 Alaska standard time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-19 airplane, N5417H, sustained substantial damage while taxiing for takeoff on a remote, snow-covered frozen lake. The lake is located about 12 miles west of Big Lake, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private certificated pilot and the sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was intended to return to the Lake Hood Airport, Anchorage Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on January 25, the pilot reported that he had landed on an ice road on the frozen lake, about an hour before the accident occurred. He added that the surface of the lake was smooth, and covered by about 2 inches of fresh snow, and that "flat light conditions" made it very difficult to discern any topographical features on the lake ice. He reported that as he taxied the airplane in preparation for departure, it began to slide on the snow-covered ice, so he applied engine power in an attempt to gain effective rudder control. He said that as the airplane gained speed on the ice, the main landing gear wheels struck a large ice ridge, and the airplane was "pitched into the air." The pilot said that in an attempt to land the airplane and regain control, he closed the throttle, and the airplane descended rapidly. The airplane's main wheels struck the ice-covered lake, and the left main landing gear partially collapsed. The airplane subsequently veered to the left, struck a stand of trees on the left side of the frozen lake, and sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5417H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5417H), registered now, S/N 19-3, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-19 - Registry model: [Piper PA-19](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-19) (registry code 7101902) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3 - Airframe hours: 3678.4 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Chris T. Capps - Registered owner: Ctc, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 23, 2003, 3,600 hours before - Departed: Big Lake, AK - Destination: Z41, Lake Hood A/S, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review October 18, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 2,796 total, 800 in this make and model, 2,697 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - Temperature: 19 °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 20050122001029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050122001029A), Jan 22, 2005: Piper PA19, Flat Lake, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft struck snow bern on takeoff ground roll while attempting takeoff from small cleared area of frozen lake. Aircraft sustained substantial damage.… ## Other investigations on N5417H (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 ANC89FA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89FA143), Aug 19, 1989: Piper PA-19 (N5417H), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: OPERATION WITH A KNOWN DEFICIENCY IN THE AIRCRAFT AND WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL DUE TO INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: LACK OF SUITABLE… 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.