Skip to content

Atlas / NTSB / ANC23LA017

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event ANC23LA017

2022-12-08 Wasilla, Alaska, United States Airport · Z40 None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N3861P

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

PIPER PA-22-150

Year of manufacture

1955 · 67 years old at event

Engine

LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)

Seats / Engines

4 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19551223

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A4741D

Registrant of record

DELLINGER JEREMIAH

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing site, which resulted in a nose over after the main landing gear wheels broke through deep snow on the snow-covered runway.

Factual narrative

The instructor pilot of the tundra tire-equipped airplane reported that, during a touch-and-go maneuver on a snow-covered runway, the airplane decelerated rapidly as the main landing gear wheels touched down into the deep snow, and he was unable to perform the go around maneuver. The airplane subsequently nosed over sustaining substantial damage to the wing lift struts and rudder. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

  • Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Aircraft capability-(general)-Capability exceeded
  • Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Instructor/check pilot
  • Environmental issues-Physical environment-Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface-Snow/slush/ice covered surface-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2022_ANC23LA017.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.