# NTSB ANC12LA107: Piper PA-22-160, N8433D, Talkeetna, AK, September 17, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 17, 2012, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.093055, -150.118606 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.0931&lon=-150.1186&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 22, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 85069 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12LA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85069/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85069 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12LA107 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in an inadvertent stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that he assumed control of the airplane shortly after takeoff to demonstrate a low-altitude maneuver to the private pilot. He said that during a left turn, the nose started to drop, the airplane descended, and it sounded like the speed was increasing. The flight instructor added power, leveled the airplane’s wings, and released the back pressure on the control yoke trying to break any stall, but the airplane continued to descend. As the airplane approached the ground, the instructor increased back pressure on the control yoke, but there was no response. The airplane impacted the ground. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On September 17, 2012, about 1200 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-22-160 airplane, N8433D, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain while maneuvering at a low altitude, about 15 miles south of Talkeetna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by Alaska Floats and Skis, Talkeetna, as a visual flight rules (VFR) instructional flight, under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The certificated flight instructor received serious injuries, and the private pilot received minor injuries. The flight departed Talkeetna about 1150. In a written statement to the NTSB dated October 1, the flight instructor reported that after departing from the Talkeetna Airport, they flew south towards Willow, Alaska. The pilot flew along the Susitna River at 200 AGL to work on coordination, and get the feel of the airplane. After about 10 minutes the flight instructor took control of the airplane, and made a left turn toward a gravel bar on the east side of the river. The flight instructor said that during the turn the nose started to drop, the airplane descended, and it sounded like the speed was increasing. He then added engine power, leveled the wings, and released the back pressure on the control yoke, trying to break any stall, but the airplane continued to descend. As the airplane approached the ground, he added more back pressure on the control yoke with no response. The airplane impacted the ground, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8433D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8433D-2022-12-31), registration cancelled 2022-12-31, S/N 22-5688, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-160 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-160) (registry code 7102214) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-5688 - Airframe hours: 3444 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Alaska Floats & Skis Inc - Registered owner: Alaska Floats & Skis Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 8, 2012 - Departed: PATK, Talkeetna, AK - Destination: PATK, Talkeetna, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 2, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 953 total, 40 in this make and model, 631 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 20; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 9, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 160 total, 100 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 10 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 59 °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 20120917021579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120917021579A), Sep 17, 2012: Piper PA-22-160, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. PA-22 accident near Montana Creek:a telecom with a state trooper reveals that the CFI was PIC for this flight from Talkeetna to willow airport for a student's… ## Other investigations on N8433D (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 ANC08CA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08CA109), Aug 9, 2008: Piper PA-20/22 (N8433D), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from brush during the landing roll. - [NTSB DEN87LA214](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87LA214), Aug 8, 1987: Piper PA-22 (N8433D), Greeley, CO, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 27, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85069. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379634&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.