# NTSB ANC10CA072: Piper J5C, N38532, Skwentna, AK, August 9, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 8, 2010, 16:00 local (Aug 9, 2010, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Skwentna, AK - Coordinates: 61.599998, -151.600006 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6000&lon=-151.6000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 77059 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC10CA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77059/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77059 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10CA072 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, and his selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. ## 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 J5C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7100712), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper J5C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=7100712), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper J5C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7100712), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J5C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7100712), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper J5C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7100712), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was on a personal cross-country flight with a landing at an off airport site, under Title 14, CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, during landing at the off airport site, the airplane bounced through a rough spot that he had not identified during his overflight prior to landing. He said the airplane bounced in a tail-high attitude, and he did not apply power quickly enough to prevent the airplane from nosing over. The pilot reported that he should have spent more time evaluating the site for seasonal changes prior to landing. He said there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident, and that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and rudder. ## Factual narrative The private pilot was on a personal cross-country flight with a landing at an off airport site, under Title 14, CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, during landing at the off airport site, the airplane bounced through a rough spot that he had not identified during his overflight prior to landing. He said the airplane bounced in a tail-high attitude, and he did not apply power quickly enough to prevent the airplane from nosing over. The pilot reported that he should have spent more time evaluating the site for seasonal changes prior to landing. He said there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident, and that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and rudder. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N38532](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N38532), registered now, S/N 5-1394 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER J5C - Registry model: [Piper J5C](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j5c) (registry code 7100712) (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: 5-1394 - Airframe hours: 1854 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Woodward Paul A - Registered owner: Woodward Paul A - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 9, 2010 - Departed: BCV, Birchwood, AK - Destination: Skwentna, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2009; seat: center; flight hours: 657 total, 414 in this make and model, 624 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Temperature: 57 °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 20100808047549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100808047549A), Aug 8, 2010: Piper J5C, Friday Creek, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot landed at an off airport unimproved airstrip which was overgrown with tall grass. He states that on landing, the aircraft bounced through a rough… ## Other investigations on N38532 (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 ANC95LA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA001), Oct 4, 1994: Piper J5C (N38532), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE LACK OF A SUITABLE FORCED LANDING AREA. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 28, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77059. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338411&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.