# NTSB ANC15LA069: Piper PA 28-140, N7494R, North Pole, AK, September 2, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 2, 2015, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: North Pole, AK - Coordinates: 64.821662, -147.521667 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8217&lon=-147.5217&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 16, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 91925 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC15LA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91925/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91925 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15LA069 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s loss of directional control during landing with a tailwind, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with trees. ## 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-28-140, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102802), [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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/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-28-140, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102802), [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-28-140, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was conducting a local flight with a passenger on board. The passenger stated that they had overflown a moose hunting area and were returning to the departure airport for landing. After touchdown and during the landing roll, the airplane veered left, then right, then left again before departing the runway and impacting a stand of birch trees. He stated that the airplane seemed to fly great and that he was not aware of, nor did the pilot discuss, any mechanical anomalies or malfunctions during the flight. Due to injuries sustained in the accident, the student pilot was unable to remember the accident sequence. A pilot-rated witness reported that he observed the airplane on final approach with about an 8- to 10-knot tailwind and noted that the airplane appeared to be a "little fast." He stated that, after touchdown, the airplane veered left, then right, then sharply left again before exiting the runway, corroborating the passenger's statement. The examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On September 2, 2015, about 1500 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-28 airplane, N7494R, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control while landing at Lakloey Air Park, North Pole, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the student pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) flight under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, when the accident occurred. The student pilot sustained minor injuries and the sole passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on September 2, the passenger stated that they had overflown a moose hunting area and were returning for landing. After touchdown, during the landing roll, the airplane veered to the left, then to the right, then back to the left before departing the runway and impacting a stand of birch trees. He stated that the airplane seemed to fly great, and he was not aware of, nor did the pilot discuss, any mechanical anomalies or malfunctions during the course of the flight. During an interview with the NTSB, IIC on September 3 the pilot stated that the only thing he remembered from the accident flight was being on short final for runway 24 at Lakloey Air Park. At the time of the accident, a pilot rated witness on the northeast corner of Lakloey Air Park reported light wind conditions out of the east at 8 to 10 knots. He observed the accident airplane on final approach for runway 24; a downwind landing. He noted that the airplane appeared to be a "little fast", and estimated the groundspeed to be about 60 miles per hour. He said that after touchdown, the airplane veered to the left, then to the right, then back sharply to the left before exiting the runway. The NTSB IIC reached the accident site on the morning of September 3. The airplane came to rest upright in a densely populated stand of birch trees about midfield and adjacent to runway 24, on a heading of about 250 degrees. All the primary flight controls were identified at the accident site. Stabilator control continuity was established from the control column to the stabilator balance arm. Rudder control continuity was established from the rudder torque tube to the rudder horn. Aileron control continuity was established in the direct cables, from the control column to the point where the right cable fractured with features consistent with tension overload, to the left and right aileron bellcranks, and in the balance cable to the point where the cable fractured with features consistent with tension overload, to the left and right aileron bellcranks. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The closest weather reporting facility is Ladd Army Airfield, Fort Wainwright, AKapproximately 3 miles west of the accident site. At 1458, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, reported in part: wind 090 degrees at 7 knots, visibility, 10 statute miles, clear skies; 67 degrees F; dew point 37 degrees F; altimeter, 29.87 inHG. Title 14, Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) Part 61 prescribes in part: The requirements for issuing pilot certificates and ratings, and the privileges and limitations of these certificates and ratings. The student pilot was subject to the part's applicable rules. Section 61.89, states, in part: A student pilot may not act as pilot in command of an aircraft: That is carrying a passenger. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7494R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7494R-2018-06-26), registration cancelled 2018-06-26, S/N 28-22048, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-22048 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 3405 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Luis M. Jara - Registered owner: Luis M. Jara - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 2015 - Departed: AK22, North Pole, AK - Destination: AK22, North Pole, AK - Airport: AK22, Lakleoy Air Park, runway 24, 4,000 × 50 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 66 total, 60 in this make and model, 25 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: PAFB, 3 nm away ## 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 20150902016419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150902016419A), Sep 2, 2015: Piper PA-28-140, North Pole, AK, Substantial damage. Witness stated that upon landing the aircraft veered left, corrected to the right and the aircraft went back left into the grass and trees. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 7, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91925. 6.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437307&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437308&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Master.PDF - Photos of Aircraft Wreckage (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437309&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage-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.