ANC98LA068

The certificated commercial pilot was landing on runway 24 in a tailwheel equipped airplane on a paved runway. The pilot stated that just after touchdown, a sudden wind shift caused him to lose directional control, and the airplane ground looped to the right. During the ground loop the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane came to rest off the right side of the runway, and sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. Merrill Field wind conditions at the time of the accident were reported to be from 216 degrees (magnetic) at 8 knots.

On June 9, 1998, about 1233 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-16 airplane, N5280H, sustained substantial damage during landing at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The certificated commercial pilot, and the two passengers aboard were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated about 1130 from a remote fishing site located approximately 15 miles southwest of Anchorage.

During a brief telephone conversation with a National Transportation Safety Board investigator on June 9, the pilot stated, "It was a simple ground loop. I just lost it."

In his written statement the pilot reported that just after touchdown on runway 24, a sudden wind shift caused him to lose directional control, and the airplane ground looped to the right. During the ground loop the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane came to rest off the right side of the runway, and sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage.

The Merrill Field weather at the time of the accident was: Wind, 216 degrees (magnetic) at 8 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds, 7,500 broken; temperature, 55 degrees F; altimeter, 29.78 inHg.