Skip to content

ANC12CA039

2012-05-14 · Talkeetna, Alaska, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport PATK

Current FAA registration · N7257D

Make / Model
PIPER PA-22-150
Year of manufacture
1957 · 55 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19570329
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A9B970

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the tailwheel-equipped airplane during landing, which resulted in a ground loop. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's failure to adequately monitor the landing.

Factual narrative

The commercial pilot, seated in the left seat, reported that he lost directional control of the tailwheel-equipped airplane while landing, resulting in a ground loop. The flight instructor, seated in the right seat, was providing an aircraft and local area familiarization flight. During the ground loop the airplane’s left wing struck the ground, and the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane received substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Neither pilot reported any preaccident mechanical issues with the airplane. The flight instructor was conducting an airplane and local area familiarization flight with the commercial pilot. The commercial pilot was landing the airplane when he lost directional control of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, which resulted in a ground loop. During the ground loop, the airplane’s left wing struck the ground, and the main landing gear collapsed. Neither pilot reported any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • F Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Task monitoring/vigilance-Instructor/check pilot - F

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2012_ANC12CA039.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Search this event elsewhere

External sources are reported, not agency: signal that something happened, not fact about what happened.