# NTSB ANC07LA055: Piper PA-20, N5540A, Nenana, AK, June 24, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 24, 2007, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Nenana, AK - Coordinates: 64.547225, -149.073883 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.5472&lon=-149.0739&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 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Fairbanks, FSDO-01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 66251 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC07LA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66251/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07LA055 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a ground-loop and main landing gear collapse. Factors contributing to the accident were the ground-loop and landing gear collapse. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear - collapsed (contributing factor) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The private certificated pilot was conducting a personal local flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The pilot reported that during landing, the airplane touched down on the runway centerline, and veered sharply to the right. He applied left rudder and power, but the airplane continued to the right, and ground-looped. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing struck the ground. The pilot said there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident, and that the left wing and left horizontal stabilizer, were damaged during the accident. The pilot reported that faster reactions after touchdown might have prevented the accident. ## Factual narrative On June 24, 2007, about 1530 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel-equipped Piper PA-20 airplane, N5540A, sustained substantial damage during landing at the Nenana Municipal Airport, Nenana, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal local flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The pilot and sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska, about 1445. In a written statement to the NTSB dated July 10, the pilot reported that when he reached the destination airport, the airplane touched down on the runway centerline, and veered sharply to the right. He indicated that he applied left rudder and power, but the airplane continued to the right, and ground-looped. According to the pilot, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing struck the ground. He reported that there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident, and that the left wing, and left horizontal stabilizer, were damaged during the accident. The pilot wrote that faster reactions after touchdown might have prevented the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5540A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5540A-2017-05-16), registration cancelled 2017-05-16, S/N 20-982 (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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20-982 - Airframe hours: 2648 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Wayne Brown - Registered owner: Westley Rice - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2007 - Departed: PAFA, Fairbanks - Destination: PANN, Nenana, AK - Airport: PANN, Nenana, runway 34, 4,600 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 110 total, 6 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °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 20070624010879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070624010879A), Jun 24, 2007: Piper PA20, Nenana, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 24, 2006, N540A, a PA-20 ballanca, ground looped while landing on runway 22 at the Nenana airport. There was a 10-12 knot crosswind from the… ## Other investigations on N5540A (2) 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 ANC09CA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09CA107), Sep 27, 2009: Piper PA-20 (N5540A), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's decision to attempt an off-airport landing and his failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. - [NTSB NYC68D0423](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC68D0423), Mar 26, 1968: Piper PA-20 (N5540A), Blossvale, NY, 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.