Nenana Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Nenana, Alaska 99760
Saturday, May 16, 2009 16:40 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The solo private pilot reported he was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane on a dry hard-surfaced runway, at the completion of a Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. He said that during touchdown the airplane bounced slightly and he added engine power to cushion the landing. As the airplane touched down again, a gust of wind pushed the airplane's tail to the left, and the airplane ground looped to the right. The airplaneā€™s left main landing gear leg collapsed, and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot said there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane, and noted in his report to the NTSB that the airplane had recently been converted from skis to wheels. He said that he should have flown with a flight instructor before attempting a flight in a wheel-equipped airplane, or selected a grass or gravel landing site.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing, resulting in a ground loop and substantial damage to the airplane.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/16/2009
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1640
Event Time Zone --
Event City Nenana
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99760
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 643230N
Event Location Longitude 1490416W
Event Location Airport Nenana Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ENN
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 362
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID ENN
Elevation of weather observation facility 362
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.07
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25686
NTSB Notification Source ANC FAA, ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 7 2009 4:23PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2031U
NTSB Number ANC09CA044
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MAULE
Aircraft Model M-4-220C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 2019C
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 5 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 144
Airframe Hours 2022
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name SWINGLE SCOTT
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City FAIRBANKS
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99709-6217
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Thomas Payer
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Fairbanks
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99708
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Airport Code AK28
Departure City Fairbanks
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1607
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code ENN
Destination City Nenana
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 7 2009 4:23PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 04L
Runway Length 4600
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --