# NTSB ANC96LA055: Piper PA-11, N4791M, Paxson, AK, April 13, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 13, 1996, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Paxson, AK
- Coordinates: 63.699886, -144.889053 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.6999&lon=-144.8891&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 25, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 2827
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA055
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2827/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA055

## Probable cause

the student pilot's selection of an unsuitable off airport landing site. Factors associated with the accident were the soft and snow covered terrain.

## 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 student pilot reported that he was landing on a snow covered, off-airport landing site to watch a winter sports competition. During the landing roll, the main landing gear skis broke through the soft snow and the airplane nosed over.

## Factual narrative

On March 13, 1996, about 1330 Alaska daylight time, a ski equipped Piper PA-11 airplane, N4791M, sustained substantial damage while landing at an off airport site near Paxson, Alaska. The solo student pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 pleasure flight originated at the Lake Hood Airstrip, Anchorage, Alaska, and operated in visual meteorological conditions.

The student pilot reported the accident on March 23. In a written statement provided to the NTSB investigator-in-charge, he wrote that he was landing the airplane on a snow covered surface. During the landing roll, the landing gear skis broke through the snow, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot said he was landing the airplane to watch the Arctic Iron Man competition.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4791M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4791M), registered now, S/N 11-305, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-11
- Registry model: [Piper PA-11](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-11) (registry code 7101102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 11-305
- Airframe hours: 2353
- Engines: Lycoming O-235-C1 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Mark W. Barkdull
- Registered owner: Robert J. Hallett
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1995, 93 hours before
- Departed: Z41, ANCHORAGE, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; student; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: front; flight hours: 51 total, 51 in this make and model, 35 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °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 19960413008099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960413008099A), Apr 13, 1996: Piper PA11, Paxson, AK, Substantial damage. Ski equipped broke thru crusted snow landing off airport. Nosed over. Landing to watch artic iron man competition.

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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