# NTSB ANC85LA076: Piper 22/20, N8035D, Girdwood, AK, April 28, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 28, 1985, 09:20 local (17:20 UTC)
- Place: Girdwood, AK
- Coordinates: 60.899364, -148.910522 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8994&lon=-148.9105&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4488
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC85LA076
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4488/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85LA076

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - uphill (contributing factor)
  - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - inadequate
  - visual/aural detection, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear - overload
  - landing gear,ski assembly - overload
  - misc eqpt/furnishings - inadequate (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS ON A FLT TO TRANSPORT 2 SKIERS TO A GLACIER AREA, SO THEY COULD SKI DOWNHILL TO A LOCATION TO WHERE THEY COULD BE PICKED UP. THE PLT LANDED THE WHEEL/SKI EQUIPPED ACFT ON UPSLOPING TERRAIN. THE VISIBILITY WAS GOOD, EXCEPT A WHITEOUT PHENOMENA WAS PREVALENT IN THE SELECTED LANDING AREA. DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT STRUCK AN UNSEEN SNOW DRIFT WHICH BENT THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR. THE WHITEOUT GLARCIER WAS SO NAMED BECAUSE OF ITS UNIQUE PROPENSITY TO INDUCE WHITEOUT ILLUSIONS. NO ELT WAS INSTALLED IN THE ACFT, SO THE 2 PASSENGERS SKIED DOWN THE GLACIER & SUMMONED HELP. HOWEVER, THE WIND BEGAN BLOWING & DELAYED A RESCUE. TWO DAYS LATER, AN AIR FORCE H-3 HELICOPTER CRASHED DOWNHILL FROM N8035D WHILE ATTEMPTING A RECOVERY. LATER, ANOTHER HELICOPTER WAS USED TO RECOVER THE OCCUPANTS OF BOTH DOWNED ACFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8035D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8035D), registered now, S/N 22-5560, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER 22/20
- 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: 22-5560
- Airframe hours: 2905
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Russell James Kendall
- Registered owner: Robert F. Hanson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 12, 1985, 13 hours before
- Departed: AQY, GIRDWOOD, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 429 total, 334 in this make and model, 371 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 25 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19850428015119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850428015119A), Apr 28, 1985: Piper STCPA22, Girdwood, AK, Substantial damage. Aircraft struck unseen snowdrift during rollout on glacier. Gear collapsed.

## Other investigations on N8035D (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 MKC70D0051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC70D0051), Jun 16, 1969: Piper PA-22 (N8035D), Rantoul, KS, substantial damage
- [NTSB MKC69F0357](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC69F0357-191321), Feb 18, 1969: Piper PA-22 (N8035D), Lawrence, KS, substantial damage

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.

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