# NTSB ANC23LA017: Piper PA-22-150, N3861P, Wasilla, AK, December 8, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 8, 2022, 14:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Wasilla, AK - Coordinates: 61.39446, -149.84359 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.3945&lon=-149.8436&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - 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: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 106662 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC23LA017 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106662/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106662 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA017 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing site, which resulted in a nose over after the main landing gear wheels broke through deep snow on the snow-covered runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000/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-22-150, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The instructor pilot of the tundra tire-equipped airplane reported that, during a touch-and-go maneuver on a snow-covered runway, the airplane decelerated rapidly as the main landing gear wheels touched down into the deep snow, and he was unable to perform the go around maneuver. The airplane subsequently nosed over sustaining substantial damage to the wing lift struts and rudder. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3861P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3861P), registered now, S/N 22-3553, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-3553 - Year built: 1955 - Airframe hours: 3780 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2022, 157 hours before - Departed: PATK, Talkeetna, AK - Destination: PAWS, Wasilla, AK - Airport: Z40, Goose Bay, runway 26, 3,000 × 75 ft, snow - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 62; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 16, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 10,000 total, 2 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command, 112 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 22; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 13, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 109 total, 14 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Temperature: 15 °F, dew point 5 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - METAR: PAWS 082256Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR M11/M12 A2946 RMK AO2 SLP984 T11111122 FZRANO ## 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 20221208019239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221208019239A), Dec 8, 2022: Piper PA-22-150, Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. During an instructional flight, the CFI[privacy data omitted] decided to do practice landings at Goose Bay Airport (Z40). Both the CFI and student [privacy… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 6, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106662. 5.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 5.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15035830&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA017%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 698 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15036208&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20ANC23LA017-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.