# NTSB ANC99LA056: Piper PA-14, N5402H, Talkeetna, AK, May 2, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 2, 1999, 11:01 local (19:01 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.449138, -149.789413 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4491&lon=-149.7894&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 46272 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA056 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46272/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA056 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, and an inadvertent ground loop. A factor in the accident was a quartering tailwind. ## 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 - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll ## Analysis The certificated private pilot was landing a tailwheel equipped airplane on runway 36. After touchdown, as the airplane was slowing to taxi speed, the pilot said a gust of wind ground looped the airplane. The nose of the airplane veered to the left. The right wing struck the runway surface, and received damage to the outboard end. The pilot said the wind direction was from 240 degrees at 10 knots. ## Factual narrative On May 2, 1999, about 1101 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-14 airplane, N5402H, sustained substantial damage while landing at the Talkeetna Airport, Talkeetna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The certificated private pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1030. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on May 4, 1999, the pilot reported he was landing on runway 36 at Talkeetna. After touchdown, as the airplane was slowing to taxi speed, the pilot said a gust of wind ground looped the airplane. The nose of the airplane veered to the left. The right wing struck the runway surface, and received damage to the outboard end. The pilot said the wind direction was from 240 degrees at 10 knots. On May 4, 1999, the airport manager for the Talkeetna Airport reported that he examined the airplane. He said between four to five feet of the outboard end of the right wing was bent upward about one foot. A METAR report for the Talkeetna Airport at 1053 was reporting, in part: Wind, 030 degrees at 7 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, few clouds at 7,000 feet, 9,000 feet scattered; temperature, 39 degrees F; dew point, 16 degrees F; altimeter, 29.39 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5402H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5402H), registered now, S/N 14-512, built 1949 (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: 14-512 - Airframe hours: 4090 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: John P. Bast - Registered owner: Fred D. Bast - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 3, 1999, 30 hours before - Departed: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK - Destination: TKA - Airport: PATK, Talkeetna, runway 36, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 125 total, 18 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PAT ## 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 19990502004389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990502004389A), May 2, 1999: Piper PA14, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. Acft crashed under unknown circumstances and sustained substantial damage. (From the .19) on may 2, 1999, about 1101 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped… ## Other investigations on N5402H (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 ANC06CA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06CA111), Aug 15, 2006: Piper PA-14 (N5402H), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsuitable off-airport site for takeoff, which resulted in an on-ground encounter with rough-uneven terrain, a loss of control, and a collision with small trees. Factors… - [NTSB ANC99LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA135), Aug 23, 1999: Piper PA-14 (N5402H), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadvertent stall during the landing flare. 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.