Piper PA-20-135 N3404A
23 October 2006 · Anchorage, Alaska, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 23 October 2006 at about 01:30 local time, a Piper PA-20-135 registered N3404A, operated by Steve Libby, was involved in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 01:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Anchorage, Alaska, United States
- Nearest airport
- Merrill Field (PAMR)
- Coordinates
- 61.2136, -149.8445
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20-135
- Registration
- N3404A
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Steve Libby
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Anchorage → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC07CA004
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop and encounter with terrain. Factors associated with the accident were the ground loop and inadequate main wheel brakes.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The commercial certificated pilot was practicing touch and go takeoffs and landings under Title 14, CFR Part 91. He said prior to takeoff, the airplane's brakes functioned, but worked "poorly." During the landing roll, he stated that the airplane veered sharply to the right, and he was unable to correct for the deviation using the brakes and rudder. He said the airplane exited the runway to the right, and ground-looped. The airplane received damage to the left wingtip, left elevator, fuselage lower longeron, and left main landing gear.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-20 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Jun 2006 | Piper PA-20 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | Craig T. Weaver | No injuries | - |
| 25 Mar 2006 | Piper PA-20 | South St. Paul, Minnesota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Jul 2007 | Piper PA-20-135 | State College, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jun 2007 | Piper PA-20 | Nenana, Alaska, United States | Wayne Brown | No injuries | - |
| 28 Apr 2005 | Piper PA-20 | Thomaston, Georgia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Jul 2005 | Piper PA-20 | Nome, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Aug 2006 | Eurocopter France AS350 B2 | Nuiqsut, Alaska, United States | Prism Helicopters Ltd | Fatal | 1 |
| 1 Mar 2006 | Douglas DC-3 | Beluga, Alaska, United States | Transnorthern Aviation Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 2006 | Piper PA-31 | Fairbanks, Alaska, United States | Everts Air Alaska | No injuries | - |
| 19 Aug 2006 | Piper PA-16 | Chugiak, Alaska, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 9 May 2006 | Lanford ANTARES MA-33 | Trapper Creek, Alaska, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 14 Dec 2006 | Piper PA-32-301 | Port Heiden, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |