Summary
On June 09, 1998, a Piper PA-16 (N5280H) was involved in an incident near Anchorage, AK. All 3 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's inadvertent ground loop.
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.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC98LA068. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N5280H.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's inadvertent ground loop.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
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.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC98LA068