- Date
- February 15, 2017, 16:00 local (Feb 16, 2017, 01:00 UTC)
- Place
- Ruby, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N72999Piper PA22
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 15, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20170215002929A
- Case key
- 94866
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in flat light conditions on a hard-packed snow-covered landing area.
Findings · 6
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of the tailwheel, ski-equipped airplane reported that, while landing off airport in flat light conditions, he was unable to maintain a good visual reference of the hard-packed snow-covered landing area. After touchdown, the airplane drifted off the hard-packed snow, and the left ski sunk in softer snow. He increased power and attempted to recover with "hard right control" to no avail. The airplane's left ski struck a snow-covered tank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel, ski-equipped airplane reported that while landing off airport in flat light conditions, he was unable to maintain a good visual reference of the hardpacked snow covered landing area. After touchdown, the airplane drifted off the hardpacked snow and the left ski sunk in softer snow. He increased power and attempted to recover with "hard right control" with no prevail. The airplane struck a snow-covered tank with the left ski. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N72999
- Reported as
- Piper PA22 (160)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-6507
- Built
- 1958
- Airframe hours
- 3,857.9
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 29, 2016
- Departed
- FAI · Fairbanks, AK
- Destination
- Ruby, AK
- Equipment
- None
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 72
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 13, 2015
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 8,434 total · 2,550 in this make and model · 8,434 as pilot in command · 55 in the last 90 days · 19 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,300 ft broken
- Temperature
- 18 °F, dew point 14 °F
- Altimeter
- 28.97 inHg
- Observed at
- PATA, 15 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 12, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N72999 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.