Seward Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Seward, Alaska 99664
Saturday, October 17, 1992 15:29 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A WITNESS TO THE ACCIDENT STATED THAT 'THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF IN A VERY NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, QUIT FLYING, AND FELL TO THE GROUND.' THEN THE AIRPLANE WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND CRASHED INTO A LARGE DITCH. THE UNLICENSED PILOT SAID HE COULD NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD NEVER HAD ANY OFFICIAL FLIGHT INSTRUCTION, BUT HAD FLOWN THREE TIMES WITH A FRIEND DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE PILOT ALSO SAID THIS WAS HIS SECOND SOLO FLIGHT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOTS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON THE GROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOTS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB, HIS INADEQUATE TRAINING, HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, AND THE DITCH.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/17/1992
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1529
Event Time Zone --
Event City SEWARD
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99664
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SEWARD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SWD
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 50
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1450 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID SWD
Elevation of weather observation facility 50
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
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) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 934
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 17 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1550
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 50559
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:22PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1660A
NTSB Number ANC93LA008
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-22
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-22
Aircraft Serial Number 22-429
Certified Max Gross Weight 1800
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 30 1980 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BAILEY, OSCAR H.
Aircraft Owner Street Address OLD NASH ROAD
Aircraft Owner City SEWARD
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99664
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BAILEY, OSCAR H.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address OLD NASH ROAD
Operator City SEWARD
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99664
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code SWD
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1529
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --