# NTSB ANC08LA047: Piper PA-22, N5840Z, Ugashik, AK, April 1, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 1, 2008, 09:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Ugashik, AK - Coordinates: 57.566665, -157.024993 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.5667&lon=-157.0250&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 8, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 67752 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08LA047 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67752/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA047 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a nose over. A factor contributing to the accident was water on the surface of the ice-covered lake. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain: wet/muddy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing a tailwheel and tundra tire-equipped airplane on an ice-covered lake. During the landing roll, the main landing gear tires encountered an area of water, which rapidly slowed the airplane, resulting in a loss of control and a nose over. The airplane received structural damage to the wings, wing lift struts, and the vertical stabilizer. ## Factual narrative On April 1, 2008, about 0900 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel and tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-22 airplane, N5840Z, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during the landing roll at a remote, ice-covered lake, about 15 miles northeast of Ugashik, Alaska. The airplane was operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airline transport certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Ugashik Airport, about 0830. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, Anchorage Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), Anchorage, Alaska, reported that he received a telephone call from the pilot. The pilot told the inspector that during the landing roll on the lake, the main landing gear tires encountered an area of water, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane received structural damage to the wings, wing lift struts, and the vertical stabilizer. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5840Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5840Z-2019-04-30), registration cancelled 2019-04-30, S/N 22-9694, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-108](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-108) (registry code 7102204) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-9694 - Airframe hours: 3954 - Engines: Lycoming O-235C2 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ronald B.Briggs - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 13, 2007, 80 hours before - Departed: 9A8, Ugashik, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 6,000 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 6,000 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - Temperature: 34 °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 20080401831899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080401831899A), Apr 1, 2008: Piper PA22108, Ugashik, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft hit a 4 inch deep puddle while landing on a frozen lake. The aircraft flipped upside down. ## Other investigations on N5840Z (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 ANC97LA151](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA151), Sep 16, 1997: Piper PA-22 (N5840Z), Northway, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of familiarity with the airplane. 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.