# NTSB ANC19TA037: Piper PA19, N6PF, Skwentna, AK, July 21, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Final report - Date: July 20, 2019, 16:57 local (Jul 21, 2019, 00:57 UTC) - Place: Skwentna, AK - Coordinates: 61.687778, -151.40083 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6878&lon=-151.4008&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 99907 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC19TA037 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99907/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99907 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC19TA037 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of directional control during a go-around and his failure to assess the wind conditions appropriately before a landing attempt. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: heading/course](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-19, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md?model=7101902), [All aircraft, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md) - [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-19, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=7101902), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-19, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101902), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-19, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101902), [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. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-19, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7101902), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during an approach to land at a remote airstrip, while on short final, the head wind changed to a tail wind and he began to lose control authority of the airplane. He initiated a go-around and applied full throttle, and the airplane rolled left. The pilot was unable to control the airplane due to the slow airspeed, and the airplane impacted a tree on the left side of the runway. The fuselage and right wing sustained substantial damage and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The pilot reported that the airplane had no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation and that the accident could have been prevented had he taken more time to assess the weather conditions and ultimately decide not to land at the challenging airstrip. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6PF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6PF), registered now, S/N 18-2007, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA19 (L18C) - Registry model: [Piper PA-19](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-19) (registry code 7101902) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-2007 - Year built: 1952 - Airframe hours: 1851.7 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, January 21, 2019 - Departed: LHD, Anchorage, AK - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 1AK8, Talaheim, runway 36, 950 × 35 ft, dirt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 8,068.1 total, 3,735.1 in this make and model, 8,022.2 as pilot in command, 170.1 in the last 90 days, 50.9 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: PANC, 50 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 20190720015579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190720015579A), Jul 20, 2019: Piper PA-19, Skwentna, AK, Substantial damage. On July 20, 2019 at approximately 1500 local time, N6PF had departed lhd and crashed under unknown circumstances while attempting to land at a cabin near… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 3, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99907. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 738 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11798832&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20final_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation (pilot) (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 151 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11798629&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N6PF%20PA19%20ROC%20pilot%20v2-Rel.pdf - Photograph (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11799378&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20ANC19TA037%20-Rel.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.