# NTSB ANC09CA107: Piper PA-20, N5540A, Fairbanks, AK, September 27, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 26, 2009, 19:30 local (Sep 27, 2009, 03:30 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 63.966667, -147.25 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.9667&lon=-147.2500&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 April 19, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 74815 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09CA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74815/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74815 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09CA107 ## Probable cause The student pilot's decision to attempt an off-airport landing and his failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## 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-20, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102002), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-20, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102002), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-20, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=7102002), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-20, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102002), [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-20, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102002), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-20, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102002), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-20, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7102002), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that he was attempting to land at the short and rough off-airport site in his personal tailwheel-equipped airplane at the conclusion of a Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight. He said during the landing roll, the airplane encountered a dip in the surface, and he lost directional control, with the airplane veering to the right, off the airstrip, and nosing over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and its associated lift struts. The pilot said there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported to the NTSB investigator in charge during a telephone conversation on September 28, 2009, that he was attempting to land at the short and rough off-airport site in his personal tailwheel-equipped airplane at the conclusion of a Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight. He said during the landing roll, the airplane encountered a dip in the surface, and he lost directional control, with the airplane veering to the right, off the airstrip, and nosing over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and its associated lift struts. The pilot said there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. FAA medical records indicate he had approximately 14 hours total flight experience as of June 10, 2009. The student pilot did not complete an NTSB accident report form as requested. ## 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 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Rice Wesley R - Registered owner: Rice Wesley R - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: NA, Fairbanks, AK - Destination: NA, Fairbanks, AK - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: NA, Na ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 46; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; flight hours: 14 total, 14 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 ANC07LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07LA055), Jun 24, 2007: Piper PA-20 (N5540A), Nenana, AK, substantial damage. 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… - [NTSB NYC68D0423](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC68D0423), Mar 26, 1968: Piper PA-20 (N5540A), Blossvale, NY, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 9, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74815. 11 KB in all. - No Supporting Documentation (item 1, .PDF, 11 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321074&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=No%20Supporting%20Documentation-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. --- 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.