# NTSB ANC95LA096: Piper PA-20, N6946K, Homer, AK, July 5, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 5, 1995, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Homer, AK
- Coordinates: 59.399715, -151.319427 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.3997&lon=-151.3194&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 8, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 2680
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA096
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2680/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA096

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER (EXCESSIVE) USE OF THE BRAKES AFTER THE AIRPLANE CRESTED THE LANDING SITE'S CROWN AND STARTED DOWNHILL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - downhill
  - brakes(normal) - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRPLANE ON A RIDGE LOCATED 2000 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL. THE LANDING AREA WAS 1100 FEET LONG AND HAD A LENGTHWISE CROWN. THE PILOT STATED THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN THE FIRST 100 FEET, AND AS IT ROLLED OVER THE CROWN, HE BEGAN TO APPLY BRAKES. THE AIRPLANE'S TAIL CAME UP SLOWLY, THE PROPELLER STRUCK THE GROUND, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER.

## Factual narrative

On July 5, 1995, at 1330 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-20 airplane, N6946K, registered to and operated by the pilot, nosed over during the landing roll on a ridge in the Caribou Hills, north of Homer, Alaska.  The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Kenai, Alaska, and the destination was the ridge line on which the airplane crashed.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed.  The private certificated pilot and his passenger were not injured and the airplane received substantial damage.

According to the pilot, the ridgeline on which he landed is at the 2000 foot level in the Caribou Hills and is 1100 feet long with a lengthwise crown.  He landed the airplane in the first 100 feet of the ridge and when the airplane crested the crown he began braking.  The airplane slowed down and the tail began to come up.  The propeller struck the ground and the airplane continued to slowly nose over.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6946K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6946K-2017-10-30), registration cancelled 2017-10-30, S/N 20-50, built 1950 (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: 20-50
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Klaben, Paul
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: ENA, KENAI, AK
- Destination: CARIBOU HILLS, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 670 total, 461 in this make and model, 614 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken

## 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 19950705022739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950705022739A), Jul 5, 1995: Piper PA20, Homer, AK, Substantial damage. Nosed over landing on top of a ridge. Short landing area and downslope required too much braking.

## Other investigations on N6946K (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 ANC84LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84LA011), Oct 25, 1983: Piper PA-20 (N6946K), Kenai, 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.

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