# NTSB ANC20CA082: Piper PA 20, N1526A, Talkeetna, AK, August 18, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 18, 2020, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.320835, -150.09304 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.3208&lon=-150.0930&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: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 101828 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC20CA082 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101828/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101828 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA082 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground-loop. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-20, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=7102002), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/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-20, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102002), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [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-20, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102002), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-20, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7102002), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/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-20, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102002), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot reported that he was practicing landings in the tailwheel-equipped airplane to gain more experience in that model while flying in the right seat. He hired a flight instructor who was experienced in the model airplane to provide instruction from the left seat. During the pilot’s second flight in the airplane, while he was performing a 3-point landing, the airplane bounced slightly on the asphalt runway. After bouncing, the tailwheel shimmied, and the airplane immediately ground looped to the right and the left wing and horizontal stabilizer impacted the surface, which resulted in substantial damage. The flight instructor reported that the pilot was acting as pilot-in-command for the entire flight, and that she was not providing instruction, but rather allowing the pilot to gain flight time from the right seat. During the final approach, she observed that the airplane was about 5 knots fast before the 3-point landing. When the airplane touched down it bounced and then settled down while in a slight right yaw. The airplane immediately turned right upon touch down and the pilot at the controls attempted to correct with left brake, but the left wing impacted the runway. The pilot had a tailwheel endorsement, a flight instructor certificate and was current for flying as a pilot-in-command. He reported that he was obtaining right seat flight time so that he could instruct in the same model of airplane. The tailwheel was examined by a mechanic after the accident and determined to function properly. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1526A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1526A), registered now, S/N 20-720, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA 20 - Registry model: [Piper PA-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20) (registry code 7102002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20-720 - Year built: 1951 - Engines: Lycoming O-290 140 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Christianson Lake Rentals & Maintenance LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PATK, Talkeetna, AK - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: PATK, Talkeetna Airport, runway 1, 3,300 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; remote, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 20, 2020; seat: right; flight hours: 887 total, 2.3 in this make and model, 840 as pilot in command, 167 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 22; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; last flight review May 1, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 740 total, 150 in this make and model, 685 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 55 ft overcast - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 51 °F - Altimeter: 2986.00 inHg - Observed at: PATK ## 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 20200818009819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200818009819A), Aug 18, 2020: Piper PA-20, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. While completing a 3 point landing on runway 01 at Talkeetna, after a slight bounce the pilot/pic [privacy data omitted] failed to maintain directional control… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 8, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101828. 24.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 396 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11568483&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - CFI statements (spaulding) (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 23.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11568256&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Spaulding%20V2%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA communications memo (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11569197&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20memo%20v2-Rel.pdf - Photograph (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11568462&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Template%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.