Piper PA-22 N4520A

Summary

On 15 July 1997 at about 04:00 local time, a Piper PA-22 registered N4520A, operated by Alfred B. Shipley, was involved in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 July 1997 at 04:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Chena Marina (AK28)

Coordinates

64.8107, -147.7201

Aircraft

Piper PA-22

Registration

N4520A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Alfred B. Shipley

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC97LA103

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's initiation of an abrupt, evasive maneuver, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. Factors in the accident were an undetermined object crossing the runway and the passenger's rudder control interference during the evasive maneuver.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was departing a private airstrip toward the south, and had just obtained lift-off airspeed. The passenger and pilot noticed an unidentified object run across the runway under the main wheels. The pilot thought the object was a dog or child. The pilot abruptly pulled the control stick aft. At the same time, the passenger depressed the right rudder. Both actions were an attempt to miss hitting the object. The right wing struck the runway, and the airplane ground looped and nosed over.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.