Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-22 near Dillingham, AK — 2014-07-28

Final reportANC14LA056
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Date
2014-07-28
Location
Dillingham, AK, USA
Airport
DLG
Aircraft
PIPER PA-22
Registration
N8883C
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing due to his decision to attempt a landing with a quartering tailwind, which resulted in a ground loop and impact with the runway surface.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, after the airplane entered the right downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 19, he received the airport wind information, which indicated wind from 290 degrees at 8 knots gusting to 12 knots; this resulted in a quartering tailwind for the landing. During the landing, the tailwheel-equipped airplane started to veer left and then ground looped, which resulted in the separation of the right main landing gear and impact with the runway surface. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen to land on runway 01 instead of 19 with a tailwind.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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