# NTSB ANC93LA117: Piper PA-20, N4946M, Circle Hot Spri, AK, July 14, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 14, 1993, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Circle Hot Spri, AK - Coordinates: 65.790008, -144.200729 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.7900&lon=-144.2007&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2379 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2379/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA117 ## Probable cause THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAXI. FACTOR IS THE ROUGH/RUTTED CONDITION OF THE AIRSTRIP. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - to takeoff - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff - object - tree(s) ## Analysis ACCORDING TO THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND HE FELT THERE WAS A ROCK JAMMED IN THE LEFT BRAKE OR WHEEL BECAUSE DURING HIS TAXI HE FELT THE LEFT WHEEL DRAGGING. HE ADDED POWER AND THE AIRPLANE TAXIED OVER SOME RUTS AT THE SAME TIME. THE AIRPLANE MADE A QUICK TURN AND LEFT THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY STRIKING A TREE. ## Factual narrative On July 14, 1993, at 1230 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-20 airplane, N4946M, registered to and operated by the Pilot-in-Command, ran off the runway and struck a tree at Circle Hot Springs Airstrip, Circle Hot Springs, Alaska, while taxiing for takeoff. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91 was taxiing for takeoff at Circle Hot Springs and the destination was Fairbanks, Alaska. A visual flight rules flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the Pilot-in-Command and his passenger were not injured. According to the Pilot-in-Command during a telephone interview right after the accident, he felt the left wheel dragging during taxi and he added power. The airplane made a quick turn and ran off the side of the runway. According to the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 submitted by the Pilot-in-Command, he suspected that a rock had been jammed in the brake or wheel on the left side. He also stated that the wheels hit some ruts when he added power. He did not describe the width or depth of the ruts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4946M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4946M-2021-05-02), registration cancelled 2021-05-02, S/N 20-637 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-20 - Registry model: [Piper PA-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20) (registry code 7102002) (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: 20-637 - Airframe hours: 2490 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-D 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Garbowski, Henry - Registered owner: Henry & Sandra Garbowski - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1992, 18 hours before - Destination: FAI, FAIRBANKS, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: CHP, Circle Hot Springs ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 170 total, 45 in this make and model, 170 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °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 19930714023789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930714023789A), Jul 14, 1993: Piper PA20, Circle Hot Spri, AK, Substantial damage. Lost control taxiing for takeoff. Surface was ruted and loose rocks. Beleived a rock locked a brake. ## Other investigations on N4946M (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 ANC83FAA01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83FAA01), Oct 8, 1982: Piper PA-20-A (N4946M), Phillips Field, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB UNK64X0425](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X0425), Feb 1, 1964: Piper PA20 (N4946M), Glendo, WY, 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.