Piper PA22 N72999

Summary

On 16 February 2017 at about 01:00 local time, a Piper PA22 registered N72999 was involved in an accident near Ruby, 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.

Date

16 February 2017 at 01:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Ruby, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

65.1361, -153.5394

Aircraft

Piper PA22

Registration

N72999

Category

Airplane

Year built

1958

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fairbanks → Ruby

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA187

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in flat light conditions on a hard-packed snow-covered landing area.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel, ski-equipped airplane reported that, while landing off airport in flat light conditions, he was unable to maintain a good visual reference of the hard-packed snow-covered landing area. After touchdown, the airplane drifted off the hard-packed snow, and the left ski sunk in softer snow. He increased power and attempted to recover with "hard right control" to no avail. The airplane's left ski struck a snow-covered tank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.