# NTSB ANC92LA015: Piper PA-14, N4285H, Anchorage, AK, November 8, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 8, 1991, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.159614, -149.989273 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1596&lon=-149.9893&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 5, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5672
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC92LA015
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5672/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA015

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S LOSS OF CONTROL DURING FINAL APPROACH WHEN HIS ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED TO TRYING TO OPERATE THE VERNIER THROTTLE.  CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE ON THE GROUND.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - aircraft parked/standing

## Analysis

THE PRIVATE PILOT STATED THAT, JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, HE MADE AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO MANIPULATE THE VERNIER TYPE THROTTLE IN ORDER TO SLOW HIS HIGH DESCENT RATE.  THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED HARD, BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR, STALLED, AND COLLIDED WITH TWO PARKED AIRPLANES.  THE PILOT HAD JUST BOUGHT THE AIRPLANE AND HAD ONLY ABOUT 2 HOURS IN THIS TYPE AIRPLANE.  HE SAID HE WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE VERNIER TYPE THROTTLE WHICH HAD BEEN ILLEGALLY INSTALLED IN THE AIRPLANE SOMETIME BEFORE HE BOUGHT IT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4285H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4285H), registered now, S/N 14-90, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-14
- Registry model: [Piper PA-14](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-14) (registry code 7101402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-series) (registry code 42389, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 14-90
- Airframe hours: 2099
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bennett, Rex D.
- Registered owner: Phipps, James A.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 22, 1989, 130 hours before
- Departed: ENA, KENAI, AK
- Destination: NONE, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Airport: AK12, Flying Crown, runway 31, 1,100 × 60 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 1,625 total, 2 in this make and model, 1,600 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 18 °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 19911108050169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911108050169A), Nov 8, 1991: Piper STCPA14, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. High sink rate on final,bounced. Stalled. Left runway,hit two parked aircraft. Blamed unfamiliar vernier throttle.

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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