# NTSB ANC93LA180: Piper PA-14, N4259H, Yantarni Bay, AK, September 19, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 19, 1993, 09:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Yantarni Bay, AK - Coordinates: 56.959552, -158.580505 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=56.9596&lon=-158.5805&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2430 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA180 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2430/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA180 ## Probable cause THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING ROLL. A FACTOR WAS THE CROSSWIND. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - Main gear collapsed, landing ## Analysis THE PILOT SAID HE WAS LANDING ON A BEACH WHICH SLOPED ABOUT 30 DEGREES DOWN TO THE WATER. A CROSSWIND WAS BLOWING FROM THE WATER, WHICH WAS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE, AT ABOUT 20 GUSTING TO 25 KNOTS. ABOUT 150 FEET AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE ABRUPTLY TURNED ABOUT 90 DEGREES TO THE LEFT, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND BOTH WINGS HIT THE GROUND. THE PILOT SAID 'I GUESS THE CROSSWIND WAS TOO MUCH FOR ME.' ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 19, 1993, at 0945 Alaska daylight time, the pilot of a wheel equipped Piper PA-14 airplane, N4259H, lost control and crashed while landing at a remote site at Yantarni Bay, located 50 miles east of Port Heiden, Alaska. The commercial pilot and the three passengers were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The local business flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed another nearby remote site at 0930. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and no flight plan was filed. Shortly after the accident during a telephone interview, the pilot stated the following, in part: "The beach where I landed was firm ground and sloped down about 30 degrees toward the water. The right crosswind was coming off the water at about 20, gusting to 25 knots. About 150 feet after touchdown, I lost directional control of the airplane and it abruptly turned about 90 degrees to the left. The right main landing gear collapsed, the right wing hit the ground, then the left hit the ground. The right wing was bent up about 45 degrees outboard from the lift strut. The fuselage was also bent about 45 degrees to the side. The tailwheel also broke off, either before or during the ground loop. I guess the crosswind was too much for me." ADDITIONAL INFORMATION On November 12, 1993, the pilot delivered to the NTSB Investigator-in-Charge, what he said was the broken bolt from the airplane's tailwheel. Close examination found fracture marks that were consistent with instantaneous overload. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4259H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4259H), registered now, S/N 14-62, 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 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 14-62 - Airframe hours: 3320 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Fleek, Wayne A. - Registered owner: Rog & Gun Resources, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 14, 1993, 79 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,791 total, 250 in this make and model, 3,256 as pilot in command, 94 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 20 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 52 °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 19930919034989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930919034989A), Sep 19, 1993: Piper PA14, Yantarni Bay, AK, Substantial damage. Tried to land on a beach in strong crosswind. Ground looped. Tail wheel bolt broke. Exceeded crosswind component. ## Other investigations on N4259H (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 ANC80DAH11](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80DAH11), Sep 1, 1980: Piper PA-14 (N4259H), Farewell, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC76DAG01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC76DAG01), Jun 26, 1975: Piper PA-14 (N4259H), Anchorage, AK, 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.