N5402H

On May 2, 1999, about 1101 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-14 airplane, N5402H, sustained substantial damage while landing at the Talkeetna Airport, Talkeetna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The certificated private pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1030.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on May 4, 1999, the pilot reported he was landing on runway 36 at Talkeetna. After touchdown, as the airplane was slowing to taxi speed, the pilot said a gust of wind ground looped the airplane. The nose of the airplane veered to the left. The right wing struck the runway surface, and received damage to the outboard end. The pilot said the wind direction was from 240 degrees at 10 knots.

On May 4, 1999, the airport manager for the Talkeetna Airport reported that he examined the airplane. He said between four to five feet of the outboard end of the right wing was bent upward about one foot.

A METAR report for the Talkeetna Airport at 1053 was reporting, in part: Wind, 030 degrees at 7 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, few clouds at 7,000 feet, 9,000 feet scattered; temperature, 39 degrees F; dew point, 16 degrees F; altimeter, 29.39 inHg.