# NTSB ANC99LA062: Piper PA-20, N8883C, Dillingham, AK, May 16, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 15, 1999, 17:54 local (May 16, 1999, 01:54 UTC) - Place: Dillingham, AK - Coordinates: 58.819976, -157.860214 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.8200&lon=-157.8602&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (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): 46319 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46319/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA062 ## Probable cause The inadequate preflight by the pilot, who left the rudder gust lock installed, making directional control not possible. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - flight control,gust lock - not removed (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis The pilot stated that during taxi for takeoff the tailwheel equipped airplane did not steer correctly. He said that he decided to return to parking. While returning to park, the airplane turned to the left 270 degrees, substantially damaging the empennage. Postaccident inspection revealed the rudder gust lock was still installed on the tail. ## Factual narrative On May 15, 1999, at 1754 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel equipped Piper PA-20 airplane, N8883C, sustained substantial damage when it departed the left edge of runway 19 at the Dillingham Airport, Dillingham, Alaska. The commercial pilot and sole passenger were not injured. The airplane was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight by the pilot and his wife. The pilot originally intended to depart for the village of Ekuk, but was returning to park after taxiing for takeoff. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) during a telephone interview on May 18, that during taxi, the airplane did not steer correctly, but he could not determine the reason. He told the IIC that he decided to return to parking. During the return taxi on runway 19, the airplane ground looped to the left, and the pilot was unable to control the turn with rudder input or wheel brakes. The tailwheel went off the left side of the runway onto uneven ground, damaging the tailwheel support structure and center empennage. The pilot told the IIC that after the accident, he discovered the external rudder gust lock still installed. Reported winds at the time of the accident were 210 degrees at 7 knots. Runway 19 measures 6,404 feet long by 150 feet wide. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8883C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8883C), registered now, S/N 22-1465, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-20 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22) (registry code 7102202) (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: 22-1465 - Airframe hours: 1000 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Albert W. Ball, Jr. - Registered owner: Kerrison Limited Partnership - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 4, 1997, 90 hours before - Departed: DLG - Destination: KKU, EKUK, AK - Airport: DLG, Dillingham, runway 19, 6,404 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 24,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 23,000 as pilot in command, 320 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 7 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DLG ## 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 19990515020569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990515020569A), May 15, 1999: Piper PA22, Dillingham, AK, Substantial damage. On may 15, 1999, at 1754 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel equipped Piper PA-20 airplane, N8883C, sustained substantial damage when it departed the edge of… ## Other investigations on N8883C (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 ANC14LA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14LA056), Jul 28, 2014: Piper PA-22 (N8883C), Dillingham, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing due to his decision to attempt a landing with a quartering tailwind, which resulted in a ground loop and impact with the runway… - [NTSB ANC76DAH42](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC76DAH42), Jul 18, 1976: Piper PA-22 (N8883C), Dillingham, AK, substantial damage 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.