# NTSB ANC92LA070: Piper PA-22, N3498A, Twin Hills, AK, May 10, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 9, 1992, 21:25 local (May 10, 1992, 05:25 UTC)
- Place: Twin Hills, AK
- Coordinates: 58.819343, -157.859451 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.8193&lon=-157.8595&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5721
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC92LA070
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5721/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA070

## Probable cause

DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: A BIRD.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - object - bird(s) (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, takeoff - roll/run

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN, A LARGE RAVEN FLEW TOWARDS THE PROPELLER. THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE AIRPLANE TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH THE BIRD AND LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE TRAVELLED OFF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER IN THE TUNDRA.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3498A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3498A), registered now, S/N 22-1770 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-135) (registry code 7102206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-1770
- Airframe hours: 3500
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Patterson, Frederich
- Registered owner: Patterson, Frederich
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1992, 20 hours before
- Airport: AK63, Twin Hills, runway 1, 2,000 × 45 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 405 total, 50 in this make and model, 333 as pilot in command, 201 in the last 90 days, 105 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 45 °F

## 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 19920509014099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920509014099A), May 9, 1992: Piper PA22135, Twin Hills, AK, Substantial damage. Tried to avoid large bird on takeoff. Lost control. Left runway and nosed over in tundra.

## Other investigations on N3498A (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 MKC78DER42](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC78DER42), Apr 30, 1978: Piper PA-22 (N3498A), Westbrook, MN, 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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