# NTSB ANC98LA068: Piper PA-16, N5280H, Anchorage, AK, June 9, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 9, 1998, 12:33 local (20:33 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.179084, -149.880462 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1791&lon=-149.8805&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3154 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3154/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA068 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent ground loop. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5280H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5280H-2018-12-01), registration cancelled 2018-12-01, S/N 16-84 (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 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 16-84 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C1 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Roland Gilbert Elledge - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 30, 1998, 60 hours before - Departed: ANC, ANCHORAGE, AK - Airport: MRI, Merrill Field, runway 24, 3,999 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,000 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 216° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MRI ## 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 19980609012849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980609012849A), Jun 9, 1998: Piper PA16, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Ground looped off runway landing. Damaged left wing. Collapsed left main gear.(-23) on June 9, 1998, about 1233 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper… ## Other investigations on N5280H (2) 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 ANC06LA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06LA118), Aug 19, 2006: Piper PA-16 (N5280H), Chugiak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to properly preflight the airplane and remove all water from the fuel system, which resulted in a loss of engine power during takeoff/initial climb, and subsequent loss of… - [NTSB ANC01LA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA089), Jul 20, 2001: Piper PA-16 (N5280H), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: An inadvertent ground loop during the landing roll. 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.