DILLINGHAM, AK, USA
N8DG
Piper PA-22
The private pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane on a gravel airstrip. Shortly after touchdown, the airplane began to drift to the left of centerline. The pilot said he applied brakes and corrective action, however, the left brake locked-up and the airplane subsequently ground-looped.
On September 13, 2000, about 1330 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel-equipped Piper PA-22, N8DG, sustained substantial damage while landing at a private airstrip, about 4 miles west of Dillingham, Alaska, at 59 degrees, 3 minutes north latitude, 158 degrees, 34 minutes west longitude. The airplane is owned and operated by the pilot, and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal/pleasure flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private pilot, and the one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The flight originated from the same airstrip. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) on September 13, 2000, the pilot reported that the airplane touched down in a three-point attitude on the eastbound gravel runway. He stated that shortly after touchdown the airplane began to drift to the left of centerline. The pilot applied brakes and corrective action, however, the airplane's left brake locked-up, and the airplane subsequently ground-looped. The pilot reported that during the airplane's recovery, the left brake was still engaged, and the wheel assembly did not rotate. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift-strut, right wing, and elevator. At 1354, Dillingham winds were from 10 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 20 knots.
A malfunctioning main landing gear brake, which precipitated a ground-loop.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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