- Date
- May 28, 1995, 18:30 local (May 29, 1995, 02:30 UTC)
- Place
- Koliganek, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N8021DPiper PA-22
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 30, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19950528014309A
- Case key
- 2653
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to attain the proper approach and landing speed, not maintaining directional control, and his inadequate remedial action(s). A factor in the accident was the loose objects in the landing area.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated his approach and landing speed was too fast and the airplane bounced upon touchdown. When it touched down a second time the left main gear struck a small pile of sand and sticks. To regain directional control the pilot added full power. He stated he had insufficient room in which to stop the airplane so he attempted to accelerate and climb out. The airplane's main gear struck some brush located 75 feet past the departure end of the landing/takeoff area. The airplane nosed over into the mulchatna river.
Factual narrative
On May 28, 1995, at 1830 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-22 airplane, N8021D, registered to and operated by the pilot, nosed over and crashed into the Mulchatna River, 18 miles southeast of Koliganek, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed the accident site for a local flight. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.
According to the pilot, he departed the sandbar to burn off fuel. Upon returning for landing, the approach and landing airspeed was "too hot." The airplane bounced and when it touched down the second time the left main landing gear struck a small pile of sand and sticks. The pilot stated he lost directional control and he added full power. He regained control of the airplane but was too fast to stop in the remaining landing area. He attempted to accelerate and climb out but was unable to clear the brush located past the departure end of the landing area. The main gear hit the brush and the airplane nosed over into the Mulchatna River.
The pilot stated, the takeoff area on the sandbar was 650 feet long and 50 feet wide. The brush that the airplane struck was 75 feet beyond the end of the takeoff area.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8021D
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-5546
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Kennerson, Roland S.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 15, 1994 · 80 hours before
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 32
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 220 total · 80 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 5 knots, gusting 7
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 50 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.