# NTSB ANC96LA028: Piper PA-22, N6058D, Cooper Landing, AK, March 2, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 2, 1996, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Cooper Landing, AK - Coordinates: 67.239952, -161.190872 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.2400&lon=-161.1909&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 9, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2802 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2802/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA028 ## Probable cause the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. Soft snow conditions were a factor in the accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot landed on a remote, ice covered lake in a tundra tire equipped airplane. The lake was covered by hard packed snow. During the landing roll out, a tire broke through a soft spot on the snow surface. The airplane nosed over and received damage to the wing lift struts and rudder. ## Factual narrative On March 2, 1996, about 1300 Alaska standard time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-22, N6058D, crashed during landing about 19 miles south of Cooper Landing, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated airline transport pilot and the sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1130. The pilot reported that he was landing on Iceberg Lake that was covered by hard packed snow. After landing to the east, the airplane was rolling out and encountered a soft spot on the snow surface. The airplane nosed over and received damage to the wing lift struts and rudder. The pilot and passenger were rescued from the scene on March 3, 1996, about 0200. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6058D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6058D), registered now, S/N 22-4711, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-4711 - Airframe hours: 3226 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Charles R. Rhodes - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 1995, 59 hours before - Departed: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,676 total, 243 in this make and model, 1,607 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19960302003409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960302003409A), Mar 2, 1996: Piper STCPA22, Cooper Landing, AK, Substantial damage. Landed tundra tire plane on frozen lake. Hit soft spot in snow cover. Nosed over. Rescued next day. ## Other investigations on N6058D (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 WPR23LA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA180), May 8, 2023: Piper PA-22-150 (N6058D), Ariel, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing roll, resulting in a nose over. - [NTSB ANC91LA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91LA116), Aug 7, 1991: Piper PA-22 (N6058D), Gulkana, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING ROLL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN SELECTED BY THE PILOT FOR LANDING WHICH WAS ROUGH,… 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.