ANC99LA024

Factual narrative

On January 13, 1999, about 1435 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-22-160 airplane, N9190D, sustained substantial damage when it went off the left side of runway 31 during takeoff from the Lake Hood Airstrip, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a local, visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on January 14, the pilot reported that he intended to do a few touch-and-go landings. The pilot noted that during the initial takeoff roll, the airplane pulled to the left, and continued off the left side of the runway. He stated that the main landing gear contacted soft snow, and the airplane nosed over. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector, Anchorage Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), inspected the airplane at the accident site. He reported that the airplane's left brake assembly appears to have been either locked or frozen. The FAA inspector reported that a later inspection revealed that the brake assembly had an accumulation of ice that restricted the left wheel from rotating. He added that as soon as the ice melted, the wheel rotated freely. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, and right wing lift struts. The student pilot reported that he intended to do a few touch-and-go landings. He stated that during the initial takeoff roll, the airplane pulled to the left, and continued off the left side of the runway. He said that the main landing gear contacted soft snow, and the airplane nosed over. An FAA airworthiness inspector inspected the airplane at the accident site. He said that an inspection revealed that the brake assembly had an accumulation of ice that restricted the left wheel from rotating. He added that as soon as the ice melted, the wheel rotated freely. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12