- Date
- March 6, 2021, 12:55 local (21:55 UTC)
- Place
- Anchorage, AK
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N7054KPiper PA-20
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20210306001099A
- Case key
- 102729
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in gusty tailwind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and nose down.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, during takeoff in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he had about a 3-knot tailwind. When the airplane was at about 40 mph indicated airspeed, he applied forward pressure to the control yoke, and as the tail lifted off the ground the airplane encountered a gust of wind. Subsequently, the airplane veered abruptly to the left, he overcorrected, and the airplane exited the left side of the runway and impacted a snow berm coming to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7054K
- Reported as
- Piper PA-20
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20-161
- Built
- 1950
- Airframe hours
- 4,035.14
- Engine
- Lycoming 0-290-D, 125 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 15, 2020
- Airport
- MRI · Merrill Fld, runway 16, 2,640 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- None
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 3, 2020
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 125 total · 25 in this make and model · 52 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 30 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.76 inHg
- Observed at
- PAMR
- METAR
- PAMR 062223Z 36005KT 10SM BKN050 OVC060 M01/M11 A2976 RMK AO2 T10111111 $
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 12, 2021, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.