# NTSB ANC96LA056: Piper PA-14, N4229H, Anchorage, AK, April 24, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 24, 1996, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.16082, -149.990753 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1608&lon=-149.9908&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 1, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2828 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA056 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2828/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA056 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions. Factors in the accident were the crosswind and the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the wind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with weather, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The certificated private pilot was landing at an 800 foot long airstrip at 2,500 feet mean sea level. The strip was oriented north and south along a ridge. The pilot was landing to the south and indicated that the wind was coming upslope from the east about 12 to 15 knots. After touchdown, the pilot applied the brakes and the tail of the airplane began to rise. He released the brakes and added engine power to keep the tail down. The tail continued to rise and the airplane nosed over. ## Factual narrative On April 24, about 1430 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-14, N4229H, crashed during landing at a private airstrip, about 20 miles southeast of Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Lake Hood Strip, Anchorage, about 1400. In a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported that he was landing at an airstrip known as Table Top Mountain. The 800 feet long and 15 feet wide strip is oriented north and south along a ridge. The pilot was landing to the south and indicated that the wind was coming upslope from the east about 12 to 15 knots. After touchdown, the pilot applied the brakes and the tail of the airplane began to rise. He released the brakes and added engine power to keep the tail down. The tail continued to rise and the airplane nosed over. The airplane received damage to the nose and wings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4229H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4229H), registered now, S/N 14-32, 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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 14-32 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: David Calkins - Registered owner: Stephen R. Libby - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 30, 1995, 27 hours before - Departed: Z41, AK - Airport: Table Top Mountain, runway 18, 800 × 15 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 305 total, 45 in this make and model, 262 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 15 knots - 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 19960424008269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960424008269A), Apr 24, 1996: Piper PA14, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Landed crosswind on 800FT strip. Tail rose on using brakes. Released brakes. Added power. Nosed over. 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.