Soldotna Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Soldotna, Alaska 99669
Thursday, April 6, 1995 16:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PRIVATE PILOT, WHO WAS RECEIVING DUAL INSTRUCTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF TAIL WHEEL FAMILIARIZATION, LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WHILE DOING A TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS NOT ABLE TO REGAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING IMPACTED THE RUNWAY DURING THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S REMEDIAL ACTION. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH BRAKES IN THE AFT SEAT, AND HE BELIEVED HE WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BECAUSE HE WAS UNABLE TO APPLY DIFFERENTIAL BRAKING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION. FACTORS INCLUDE THE DUAL STUDENT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND THE REAR PILOT'S STATION NOT HAVING BRAKES INSTALLED.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/6/1995
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone --
Event City SOLDOTNA
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99669
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SOLDOTNA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SXQ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 107
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 330
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 19 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:11PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3680M
NTSB Number ANC95LA047
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-12
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-12
Aircraft Serial Number 12-2631
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CHARLES P. ESSEX
Aircraft Owner Street Address 11472 KENAI SPUR HW2
Aircraft Owner City KENAI
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99611
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ALASKA FLYING NETWORK
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 403 NORTH WILLOW, NUMBER 1
Operator City KENAI
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99611
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ENA
Departure City KENAI
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code SXQ
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 7
Runway Length 4973
Runway Width 130
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --