# NTSB ANC24LA104: Piper PA-22-150, N6847B, Dillingham, AK, September 19, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 18, 2024, 17:40 local (Sep 19, 2024, 01:40 UTC)
- Place: Dillingham, AK
- Coordinates: 59.056032, -158.49472 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.0560&lon=-158.4947&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 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): 195280
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC24LA104
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195280/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195280
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA104

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while taxiing in gusting wind conditions.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · 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)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Taxi: 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 pilot reported that, while taxiing a tailwheel-equipped airplane in strong and gusty wind conditions, and as he turned the airplane 180° downwind, a strong gust of wind lifted the tail, and it subsequently nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing lift struts and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6847B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6847B), registered now, S/N 22-4146, built 1956 (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: 22-4146
- Year built: 1956
- Airframe hours: 4716.3
- Engines: Lycoming O-360A2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 135
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 22, 2024, 33 hours before
- Departed: Aleknagik, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 18, 2024; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,760 total, 1,910.3 in this make and model, 2,760 as pilot in command, 268.4 in the last 90 days, 244 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 60 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.55 inHg
- Icing: Unknown
- Observed at: PADL
- METAR: PADL 190056Z 27016G23KT 10SM FEW030 13/05 A2988 RMK AO2 SLP122 T01280050,M

## 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 20240918013769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240918013769A), Sep 18, 2024: Piper PA-22-150, Aleknagik, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot statement: while slow taxiing, turned downwind to load the plane, a gust of wind turned the plane, tail over nose. Empty plane, no injuries. Eyewitness…

## Other investigations on N6847B (1)

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 ANC22LA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA045), Apr 7, 2022: Piper PA-22-150 (N6847B), Aleknagik, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for taxi which resulted in an impact with trees.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 5, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195280. 6.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 5.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18822497&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20ANC24LA104_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 228 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18822847&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC24LA104%20Investigative%20Photographs-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.