# NTSB ANC97LA151: Piper PA-22, N5840Z, Northway, AK, September 16, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 16, 1997, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Northway, AK - Coordinates: 62.999645, -141.690307 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.9996&lon=-141.6903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3070 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3070/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA151 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of familiarity with the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot was landing the tailwheel, tundra tire equipped airplane on an asphalt runway. The pilot planned to perform a wheel landing. During the landing roll, the airplane ground looped and departed the right side of the runway. The airplane received damage to the left wing spars, left aileron, the left horizontal stabilizer, and the left elevator. The pilot indicted he had accrued a total of 3 hours in the accident airplane make and model. ## Factual narrative On September 16, 1997, about 1330 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel, tundra tire equipped, Piper PA-22, N5840Z, crashed during landing at the Northway Airport, Northway, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight, when the accident occurred. The airplane, 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, at 1030. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 20, 1997, at 0930, the pilot reported he was landing on an asphalt covered runway, runway 04, at the Northway Airport. The pilot planned to perform a wheel landing. During the landing roll, the airplane ground looped and departed the right side of the runway. The airplane received damage to the left wing spars, left aileron, the left horizontal stabilizer, and the left elevator. In the pilot/operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) submitted by the pilot, he indicated the wind conditions were from 010 degrees at 3 knots. The pilot also indicted he had accrued a total of 3 hours in the accident airplane make and model. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5840Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5840Z-2019-04-30), registration cancelled 2019-04-30, S/N 22-9694, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-22 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-108](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-108) (registry code 7102204) (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: 22-9694 - Engines: Lycoming O-235C1B 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Emory M. Strong - Registered owner: Charles Dalton - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MRI, ANCHORGAE, AK - Destination: ORT - Airport: ORT, Northway, runway 4, 5,100 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; airline transport, flight instructor, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,000 total, 3 in this make and model, 5,500 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 3 knots - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °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 19970916027709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970916027709A), Sep 16, 1997: Piper PA22108, Northway, AK, Substantial damage. Crashed on landing, other circumstances are unknown. (.4)the pilot was landing the tailwheel, tundra tire equipped airplane on an asphalt runway. The pilot… ## Other investigations on N5840Z (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 ANC08LA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA047), Apr 1, 2008: Piper PA-22 (N5840Z), Ugashik, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a nose over. A factor contributing to the accident was water on the surface of the ice-covered lake. 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.