Piper PA-22-150 accident near Palmer, Alaska, March 22, 1992
On March 22, 1992 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N5947D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palmer, Alaska (Butte airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: ICY AND SNOW COVERED RUNWAY, AND DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 22, 1992 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Palmer, Alaska · Butte · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N5947D · registry record · serial 22-4611
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LANDING ROLL ON A SNOW COVERED RUNWAY, THE PILOT REALIZED TOO LATE THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT GOING TO STOP ON THE ICY RUNWAY. AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY GROUND-LOOPED THE AIRPLANE TO STOP, HOWEVER, THE LEFT MAIN SKI CAUGHT ON AN ICE RIDGE, WHICH COLLAPSED THE MAIN LANDING GEAR AND THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE SURFACE.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 600 hours in all; 555 in this make and model; 560 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5L6 Wasilla AK at 3:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,000 ft by 300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 8 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N5947D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.