# NTSB ANC19CA057: Piper PA22, N7056D, Arctic Village, AK, August 30, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 30, 2019, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Arctic Village, AK - Coordinates: 68.090156, -145.59938 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=68.0902&lon=-145.5994&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 101378 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC19CA057 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101378/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101378 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC19CA057 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering to avoid mountainous terrain, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic 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 · 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) - [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-22-150, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was conducting a low-reconnaissance flight over a mountain ridgeline to determine its suitability as an off-airport landing site. The pilot stated that he was not paying attention to the airspeed as he completed the flyover and approached rising terrain. To avoid the rising terrain, he applied full power and turned left, but the right wing stalled while the airplane was about 20 ft above ground level, and then it struck terrain. The airplane cartwheeled, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he was conducting a low reconnaissance flight over a mountain ridgeline to determine its suitability as an off-airport landing site. The pilot stated that he was not paying attention to the airplane's airspeed as he completed the flyover and approached rising terrain. In an effort to avoid the rising terrain, he initiated a go-around by applying full power and starting a left turn, but the right wing stalled and struck terrain. The airplane cartwheeled sustaining substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot stated there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7056D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7056D-2020-10-31), registration cancelled 2020-10-31, S/N 22-4953, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA22 (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: 22-4953 - Year built: 1957 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Central, AK - Destination: Arctic Village, AK - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 270 total, 55 in this make and model, 240 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: PARC ## 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 20190830021839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190830021839A), Aug 30, 2019: Piper PA-22-150, Arctic Village, AK, Substantial damage. Airman descended to look at a ridgetop so that it could be evaluated as a landing surface. Topographic map data indicates rising terrain. Post-crash interviews… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 7, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101378. 16.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 15.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485963&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 403 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485964&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.