- Date
- July 9, 2019, 17:00 local (Jul 10, 2019, 01:00 UTC)
- Place
- Wasilla, AK
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N4245JPiper PA28
- Defining event
- Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin
- Weather
- Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 2, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190709009669A
- Case key
- 99877
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 improper landing flare, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent hard landing, runway excursion, and collision with a sign.
Findings · 3
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 reported that, during the landing flare, the airplane stalled and then fell the final 3 to 5 ft to the runway and landed hard. Subsequently, the nose landing gear tire "blew out," which resulted in the mounting framework collapsing. The airplane then veered right and exited the runway, and the right wing impacted a runway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount and right wing. 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 reported that, during the landing flare, the airplane "[fell] the final 3 to 5 ft and landed hard. Subsequently, the nose landing gear tire "blew out" and collapsed, the airplane veered right, exited the runway and the ring wind impacted a runway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount and right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station located 7 miles to the east, reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was variable at 5 knots. The airplane was landing on runway 8.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4245J
- Reported as
- Piper PA28 (140)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-22600
- Built
- 1967
- Airframe hours
- 3,902.71
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 E2A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 28, 2018
- Departed
- 0AK1 · Wasilla, AK
- Destination
- 0AK1 · Wasilla, AK
- Airport
- 0AK1 · Anderson Lake, runway 08, 1,800 × 40 ft, gravel
- Equipment
- Unknown
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
- 56
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 29, 2019
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 250 total · 150 in this make and model · 250 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Day
- Wind
- Variable at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.86 inHg
- Observed at
- PAAQ, 7 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 6, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.0 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.