# NTSB ANC21LA012: Piper PA-14, N4265H, Anchorage, AK, January 25, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 24, 2021, 17:28 local (Jan 25, 2021, 02:28 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.210591, -149.8406 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2106&lon=-149.8406&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: 3 uninjured - 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): 102555 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC21LA012 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102555/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA012 ## Probable cause The instructor pilot’s selection of an unsuitable snow-covered runway for landing practice, and the pilot under instruction’s failure to maintain directional control during a landing roll, which resulted in a loss of control in unpacked snow and a subsequent nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=7101402), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/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-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) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-14, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101402), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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-14, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101402), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The instructor pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he was conducting a tailwheel endorsement training flight for another instructor pilot who was seated in the right seat as the pilot flying. After the pilot under instruction conducted multiple touch-and-go landings on the maintained asphalt runway, the instructor pilot decided to have the pilot conduct a touch-and-go on a snow-covered runway that was used by ski-equipped airplanes in the winter. The pilot landed in the center of the runway where the snow had been packed down by skis; however, the airplane drifted right after touchdown and the pilot attempted to correct back to the middle with the instructor pilot’s assistance. The right main landing gear tire “caught unpacked snow” which caused the airplane to turn rapidly right and flip over onto its back. The vertical stabilizer and right wing lift strut sustained substantial damage. The Federal Aviation Administration’s master airport information states that the runway is used seasonally as a snow runway (ski-equipped aircraft use recommended to minimize wheel rutting.) The instructor pilot was very familiar with the airport, where his flight training school was located. He likely knew that the runway was normally used for ski-equipped airplanes, and that unpacked snow or wheel ruts from other airplanes were potential hazards during the instructional flight. The instructor pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4265H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4265H), registered now, S/N 14-69, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-14 - 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: 14-69 - Year built: 1948 - Airframe hours: 3713.5 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320-B2B 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Angel Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 27, 2020 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: MRI, Merrill Fld, runway 05/23, 2,000 × 60 ft, snow - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 62; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 13, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 15,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 14,000 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 14, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 793 total, 1 in this make and model, 735 as pilot in command, 251 in the last 90 days, 88 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: PAMR, 1 nm away - METAR: PAMR 250153Z 00000KT 10SM OVC075 00/M03 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP137 T00001033 $ ## 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 20210124000639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210124000639A), Jan 24, 2021: Piper PA-14, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. PIC was providing tailwheel instruction to student at pamr. Performed multiple landings on rwy 25 before entering extended pattern for full stop rwy 23. Snow… 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.