# NTSB ANC09CA043: Piper PA-22-150, N1999P, Talkeetna, AK, May 15, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 14, 2009, 18:25 local (May 15, 2009, 02:25 UTC)
- Place: Talkeetna, AK
- Coordinates: 62.318889, -150.089447 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.3189&lon=-150.0894&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: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73854
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09CA043
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73854/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73854
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09CA043

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, resulting in a ground loop and substantial damage to the airplane.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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-22-150, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot reported he was landing his tailwheel airplane on a hard-surfaced dry runway, which required a correction for a 5-knot right crosswind. During the landing roll, the airplane’s tailwheel began to shimmy, and the pilot applied a slight amount of forward elevator to stop the shimmy. He said that the airplane then swerved to the left, and went off the left side of the runway. The airplane subsequently ground-looped to the left, and the right main landing gear collapsed, striking the right wing on the gravel-covered shoulder of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar. The pilot indicated that there were no pre-accident mechanical problems with the airplane, other than the tailwheel shimmy. On May 29, under the supervision of the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the tailwheel was disassembled and inspected, and no pre-accident mechanical anomalies were discovered.

## Factual narrative

The private pilot reported he was landing his tailwheel airplane on a hard-surfaced dry runway, which required a correction for a 5 knot right crosswind. The airplane was operated under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. During the landing roll, the airplane’s tailwheel began to shimmy, and the pilot applied a slight amount of forward elevator to stop the shimmy. He said that the airplane then swerved to the left, and went off the left side of the runway. The airplane subsequently ground looped to the left, and the right main landing gear collapsed, striking the right wing on the gravel-covered shoulder of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane, other than the tailwheel shimmy. On May 29, under the supervision of the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the tailwheel was disassembled and inspected, and no preaccident mechanical anomalies were discovered.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1999P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1999P), registered now, S/N 22-2710, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-150
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-2710
- Airframe hours: 2773
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Holt Gregory J
- Registered owner: Holt Gregory J
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 5, 2009, 20 hours before
- Departed: PAMR, Anchorage, AK
- Destination: TKA, Talkeetna, AK
- Airport: TKA, Talkeetna Airport, runway 36, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 4, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 593 total, 160 in this make and model, 484 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observed at: PATK

## 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 20090514047069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090514047069A), May 14, 2009: Piper PA-22/20, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot and owner of a tri-pacer PA-22/20 was on a pleasure flight from merrill field to Talkeetna with his wife, mother and daughter. Upon landing at…

## Other investigations on N1999P (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 ANC92LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA168), Sep 9, 1992: Piper PA-22 (N1999P), Dillingham, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT IN COMMANDS FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF AND HIS MISJUDGMENT OF THE DISTANCE REQUIRED TO PERFORM A SAFE TAKEOFF UNDER THE CONDITIONS PRESENT.
- [NTSB LAX66F0378](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX66F0378), May 28, 1966: Piper PA-22 (N1999P), Santa Ana, CA, substantial damage

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73854. 634 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 634 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315762&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF

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.

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