# NTSB ANC89LA027: Piper PA-22, Girdwood, AK, December 29, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Date: December 29, 1988, 16:30 UTC, 12:30 local
- Place: Girdwood, AK
- Coordinates: 60.900333, -148.909133 (estimated)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director, September 25, 1989
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5155
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC89LA027
- NTSB report (PDF): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5155/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA027

## Analysis

THE PRIVATE PILOT ESCAPED INJURY WHEN HIS AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH SNOW REMOVAL VEHICLES WHILE LANDING AT THE GIRDWOOD AIRPORT, GIRDWOOD, AK. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE FLEW OVER THE AIRSTRIP, IN HIS SKI-EQUIPPED AIRPLANE, SAW THE EQUIPMENT ON THE RUNWAY, AND RETURNED TO DO A TOUCH AND GO LANDING, HOPING THAT THE EQUIPMENT WOULD MOVE ONCE THEY SAW HIS AIRPLANE APPROACH THE FIELD. HE COMPLETED THE TOUCH AND GO, AND CAME AROUND FOR A FULL STOP LANDING. HIS LANDING ROLL TOOK LONGER THAN HE HAD ANTICIPATED, AND AS HE NEARED THE END OF THE RUNWAY, HE TURNED THE AIRPLANE TO SLOW IT DOWN AND TO HEAD FOR A CLEAR AREA AT THE END OF THE STRIP. IN THE PROCESS, HE TURNED TOWARDS THE MAINTENANCE VEHICLES, LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND STRUCK BOTH VEHICLES, CAUSING SUPERFICIAL DAMAGE TO THEM AND SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE. THE MAINTENANCE VEHICLES WERE PARKED OUTSIDE THE RUNWAY PERIMETER MARKING CONES, AND THE FIELD HAD AN ACTIVE NOTICE TO AIRMEN REGARDING MEN AND EQUIPMENT ON THE RUNWAY.

## Sequence of events

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - icy (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - vehicle
  - notams - issued

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2447P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2447P-2013-03-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22
- Registry model: Piper PA-22-150 (registry code 7102210, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-2818
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 180 horsepower
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: DUNCAN, DAVID G.
- Departed: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Airport: AQY, GIRDWOOD, runway 1
- FAA reports: 19881229056889A (https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881229056889A) (OpenAirDocs)

## Flight crew

- Pilot; age 29; private; medical class 1; hours: 300 pic in this make and model, 400 total, 300 total in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility (statute miles): 100
- Lowest ceiling (ft AGL): 7000
- Temperature (°F): 19.4

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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From OpenAirDocs.org, an independent open copy of NTSB and FAA data. The NTSB's own report is the official record of an investigation.