Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary ANC03LA079

Wasilla, AK, USA

Aircraft #1

N7699K

Piper PA-20

Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing roll, the tailwheel-equipped airplane veered to the left. He said he overcorrected, and the airplane veered sharply to the right, exited the right side of the runway, and collided with a ditch. He indicated that the landing gear subsequently collapsed, and the wings and fuselage sustained substantial damage.

Factual Information

On July 14, 2003, about 2010 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel-equipped Piper PA-20 airplane, N7699K, sustained substantial damage when it exited the runway during the landing roll, and collided with a ditch at the Wasilla Airport, Wasilla, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The private pilot and sole passenger were not injured. The flight departed the Anderson Lake Airstrip, Wasilla, about 2010, visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on July 15, the pilot said during the landing roll, the airplane veered to the left. He said he overcorrected, and the airplane veered sharply to the right, exited the right side of the runway, and collided with a ditch. He said the landing gear collapsed, and the wings and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot said prior to the accident there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in the airplane's collision with a ditch, and the collapse of the main landing gear.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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