# NTSB ANC05LA042: Piper J-5A, N270JS, Kenai, AK, February 20, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 20, 2005, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Kenai, AK - Coordinates: 60.625556, -152.280548 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.6256&lon=-152.2805&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 61057 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05LA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61057/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05LA042 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for a precautionary landing, which resulted in a collision with a snow berm during the landing flare. Factors contributing to the accident were flat light conditions, the presence of a snow berm along the edge of a roadway selected as the landing area, and a high oil pressure gage indication. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, cruise - engine instruments,oil pressure gage - high pressure (contributing factor) - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - roadway/highway - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor) - light condition - other (contributing factor) ## Analysis While in cruise flight in a ski-equipped airplane, the commercial certificated pilot noticed that the engine oil pressure gauge was indicating high, near the maximum limit. He did not recall the engine oil temperature. He decided to make a precautionary landing on a snow-covered rural road that was about 25 feet wide and straight, with no obstacles. During the landing flare, the pilot said that flat light conditions prevented him from seeing a plowed snow berm along the right edge of the road. About 5 feet above the ground, the right main landing gear ski collided with the snow berm, and spun the airplane 180 degrees. The airplane then continued backwards into a large snow bank. The airplane received structural damage to the right wing and fuselage. ## Factual narrative On February 20, 2005, about 1300 Alaska standard time, a ski-equipped Piper J-5A airplane, N270JS, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a snow berm during a precautionary landing, about 28 miles west-southwest of Kenai, 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. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Soldotna Airport, Soldotna, Alaska, at 1130. 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 February 23, the pilot reported that while in cruise flight, he noticed the engine oil pressure gauge was indicating high, near the maximum limit. He did not recall the engine oil temperature. The pilot decided to make a precautionary landing toward the west on a rural road, about 3 miles northwest of the Driftriver, Alaska, airport. The remote, snow-covered road was about 25 feet wide and straight, with no obstacles. During the landing flare, the pilot said that flat light conditions prevented him from seeing a plowed snow berm along the right edge of the road. About 5 feet above the ground, the pilot said the right main landing gear ski collided with the snow berm, and spun the airplane 180 degrees. The airplane then continued backwards into a large snow bank. The airplane received structural damage to the right wing and fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N270JS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N270JS), registered now, S/N 5-18, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper J-5A - Registry model: [Piper J5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j5a) (registry code 7100702) (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: 5-18 - Airframe hours: 3386 - Engines: Lycoming O-320A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James R. Babcock - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2004 - Departed: PASX, Soldotna, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 1,300 total, 600 in this make and model, 1,300 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: PAEN, 28 nm away ## 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 20050220006409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050220006409A), Feb 20, 2005: Piper J5A, Kenai, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot did a precautionary landing due to high oil pressure indication. During touchdown on an isolated road, the a/c rt ski or wing-tip struck a snow… ## Other investigations on N270JS (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 ANC03LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA016), Dec 1, 2002: Piper J5A (N270JS), Soldotna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to remove all water from the airplane's fuel supply during the preflight inspection, which resulted in a loss of engine power and subsequent hard landing. 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.