Summary
On July 14, 1993, a Piper PA-20 (N4946M) was involved in an incident near Circle Hot Spri, AK. All 2 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-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAXI. FACTOR IS THE ROUGH/RUTTED CONDITION OF THE AIRSTRIP.
On July 14, 1993, at 1230 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-20 airplane, N4946M, registered to and operated by the Pilot-in-Command, ran off the runway and struck a tree at Circle Hot Springs Airstrip, Circle Hot Springs, Alaska, while taxiing for takeoff. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91 was taxiing for takeoff at Circle Hot Springs and the destination was Fairbanks, Alaska. A visual flight rules flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the Pilot-in-Command and his passenger were not injured.
According to the Pilot-in-Command during a telephone interview right after the accident, he felt the left wheel dragging during taxi and he added power.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC93LA117. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N4946M.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAXI. FACTOR IS THE ROUGH/RUTTED CONDITION OF THE AIRSTRIP.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On July 14, 1993, at 1230 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-20 airplane, N4946M, registered to and operated by the Pilot-in-Command, ran off the runway and struck a tree at Circle Hot Springs Airstrip, Circle Hot Springs, Alaska, while taxiing for takeoff. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91 was taxiing for takeoff at Circle Hot Springs and the destination was Fairbanks, Alaska. A visual flight rules flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the Pilot-in-Command and his passenger were not injured.
According to the Pilot-in-Command during a telephone interview right after the accident, he felt the left wheel dragging during taxi and he added power. The airplane made a quick turn and ran off the side of the runway. According to the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 submitted by the Pilot-in-Command, he suspected that a rock had been jammed in the brake or wheel on the left side. He also stated that the wheels hit some ruts when he added power. He did not describe the width or depth of the ruts.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC93LA117