Piper PA 20 accident near Talkeetna, Alaska, August 18, 2020
On August 18, 2020 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 1951 Piper PA 20, registered N1526A, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Talkeetna, Alaska (Talkeetna Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground-loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 18, 2020 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Talkeetna, Alaska · Talkeetna Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 20, built 1951 · all PA 20s on the register
- Registration
- N1526A · registry record · serial 20-720
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot reported that he was practicing landings in the tailwheel-equipped airplane to gain more experience in that model while flying in the right seat. He hired a flight instructor who was experienced in the model airplane to provide instruction from the left seat. During the pilot’s second flight in the airplane, while he was performing a 3-point landing, the airplane bounced slightly on the asphalt runway. After bouncing, the tailwheel shimmied, and the airplane immediately ground looped to the right and the left wing and horizontal stabilizer impacted the surface, which resulted in substantial damage. The flight instructor reported that the pilot was acting as pilot-in-command for the entire flight, and that she was not providing instruction, but rather allowing the pilot to gain flight time from the right seat. During the final approach, she observed that the airplane was about 5 knots fast before the 3-point landing. When the airplane touched down it bounced and then settled down while in a slight right yaw. The airplane immediately turned right upon touch down and the pilot at the controls attempted to correct with left brake, but the left wing impacted the runway. The pilot had a tailwheel endorsement, a flight instructor certificate and was current for flying as a pilot-in-command. He reported that he was obtaining right seat flight time so that he could instruct in the same model of airplane. The tailwheel was examined by a mechanic after the accident and determined to function properly.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, remote
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 887 hours in all; 2.3 in this make and model; 167 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 840 as pilot in command; 450 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 20, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 740 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 685 as pilot in command; 290 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 1, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,799 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PATK Talkeetna AK at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 3,300 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 55 ft; clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 51°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 2986.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:26 am from PATK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on September 8, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | CFI Statements (Spaulding) | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Communications Memo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photograph | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.