# NTSB ANC97LA034: Piper PA-16, N5326H, Iliamna, AK, March 13, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 13, 1997, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Iliamna, AK
- Coordinates: 59.84943, -154.559875 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.8494&lon=-154.5599&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 21, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 2971
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA034
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2971/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA034

## Probable cause

failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed during the flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Analysis

The pilot reported he was attempting to land his wheel equipped airplane on a remote, frozen lake. He said he slowed the airplane to 2 or 3 miles per hour over the stall speed during the final approach. During the landing flare, soon after crossing the edge of the lake, the airplane stalled and landed hard on the lake, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe.

## Factual narrative

On March 13, 1997, about 1300 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-16 airplane, N5326H, sustained substantial damage while landing on an unnamed lake located about 20 miles west of  Iliamna, Alaska.  The private certificated pilot and the one passenger aboard were not injured.  The local, 14 CFR Part 91 flight, operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan.  The flight departed Ninilchik, Alaska,  about  0930.  The purpose of the flight was to look for, and hunt, caribou.

During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on March 17, the pilot said he was attempting to land the airplane on a frozen lake in light and variable wind conditions.  About eight to ten feet above the lake, the airplane stalled and landed hard, damaging the landing gear and the left wing lift strut.  The pilot said there may have been some low level wind sheer associated with a small ravine near the edge of the lake.  The pilot also stated he was flying the airplane 2 to 3 miles per hour over the stall during the approach to land.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5326H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5326H), registered now, S/N 16-131, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-16
- Registry model: [Piper PA-16](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-16) (registry code 7101602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 16-131
- Airframe hours: 3484
- Engines: Lycoming O-235-C1 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Siegrist, Larry
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 3, 1997, 12 hours before
- Departed: NIN, NINILCHIK, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 545 total, 540 in this make and model, 545 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 30 °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 19970313003089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970313003089A), Mar 13, 1997: Piper PA16, Iliamna, AK, Substantial damage. Game hunting survey. Landed on frozen lake. Leveled off high. Stalled onto frozen surface. Impact damaged wing.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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