# NTSB ANC93LA082: Piper PA-22-108, N5104Z, Skwentna, AK, June 6, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 6, 1993, 12:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place: Skwentna, AK
- Coordinates: 61.109512, -149.899032 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1095&lon=-149.8990&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 17, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 2353
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA082
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2353/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA082

## Probable cause

THE PILOT IN COMMAND NOT MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE GUSTY WIND CONDITION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose over, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - gusts (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE PILOT SAID THAT HE WAS PERFORMING A SOFT FIELD LANDING DURING GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS AND THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND HE WAS TOO ABRUPT WITH THE RUDDER CONTROLS AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN SKIDDING SIDEWAYS TO THE RIGHT.  THE LEFT LANDING GEAR CAUGHT ON THE GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE ROLLED OVER ONTO ITS BACK.

## Factual narrative

On June 6, 1993, at 1220 Alaska daylight time (ADT), a wheel equipped Piper PA22-108 airplane, N5104Z, collided with terrain shortly after landing on runway 09 at the Skwentna Airport.  The private pilot and passenger, the sole occupants, were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage.  The airplane was being operated as a pleasure flight under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred.  The flight originated at the Merrill Field Airport in Anchorage, Alaska, at approximately 1115 ADT.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was not in effect.

The pilot stated that he was in the process of performing a soft field landing and that as the plane touched down he encountered a gust of wind from the west/northwest which required him to depress the left rudder pedal)to keep the airplane aligned with the runway centerline.  The pilot said that he overcompensated for the wind and that he depressed the right rudder pedal and added a "little power".  He further reported that as a result of being "too abrupt" in his use of the right rudder pedal, the airplane started to slide sideways in the gravel.  The left landing gear tire caught and the left wing struck the ground followed by the airplane rolling over onto its back.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5104Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5104Z), registered now, S/N 22-8740, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-108
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-108](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-108) (registry code 7102204) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-8740
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C1 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Hammer, Leo J.
- Registered owner: Hammer, Leo J.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, June 16, 1992, 25 hours before
- Departed: MRI, MERRILL FIELD, AK
- Airport: SKW, Skwentna, runway 9, 3,400 × 50 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 54 total, 5 in this make and model, 25 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SKW, 1 nm away

## 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 19930606017059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930606017059A), Jun 6, 1993: Piper PA22108, Skwentna, AK, Substantial damage. During soft field takeoff maneuver. Sweerved into crosswind. Over corrected. Slid sideways and overturned.

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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