# NTSB ANC20LA086: Piper PA 14, N4214H, Wasilla, AK, August 31, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 30, 2020, 19:00 local (Aug 31, 2020, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Wasilla, AK - Coordinates: 61.616943, -149.32167 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6169&lon=-149.3217&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 101898 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC20LA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101898/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101898 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20LA086 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during an attempted go-around in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in impact with trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-14, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7101402), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/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-14, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101402), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=7101402), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7101402), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-14, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7101402), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Piper PA-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7101402), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot reported that, he was attempting to land at a private airport in light crosswind conditions. After multiple failed attempts to align the airplane with the runway heading during the landing flare, he initiated a go-around. He subsequently applied power, and the airplane banked abruptly left toward trees at the edge of the runway. When he realized the airplane would not clear the trees, he reduced the power and attempted to level the wings. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the trees and then the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. A pilot-rated witness on the ground at the airport at the time of the accident reported that the wind direction was variable from 030° to 040°, gusting to 20 knots. The owner reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4214H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4214H), registered now, S/N 14-101 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA 14 (No Series) - Registry model: [Piper PA-14](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-14) (registry code 7101402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 14-101 - Year built: 1947 - Airframe hours: 4424 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 19, 2020 - Departed: PALH, Anchorage, AK - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 0AK1, Anderson Lake, runway 08, 1,800 × 40 ft, gravel - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: serious; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 24, 2020; seat: front; flight hours: 5,200 total, 400 in this make and model, 75 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 11 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.10 inHg - Observed at: PAWS, 7 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 20200830015409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200830015409A), Aug 30, 2020: Piper PA-14, Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. Witness on the ground near the accident site reported gusty winds from the southeast. Local winds at nearest muni-airport(approx. 8 miles west), 080@11KTG21KT.… ## Other investigations on N4214H (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 ANC98LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA123), Aug 19, 1998: Piper PA-14 (N4214H), Chugiak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. - [NTSB ANC76DAD10](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC76DAD10), Aug 8, 1976: Piper PA-14 (N4214H), Kruzoff Island, AK, substantial damage ## 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=101898. 6.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11723763&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DMS%206120%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - submitted by airplane owner (item 2, PDF, 9 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11723661&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=20201016164628354-Rel.pdf - Witness statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12675905&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Mr%20Schimdt-Rel.pdf - Accident video file (item 4, MOV, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12674736&FileExtension=mov&FileName=N4214H_8-30-2020-Rel.mov 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.