Piper PA-14 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, April 24, 1996
On April 24, 1996 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-14, registered N4229H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Table Top Mountain airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions. Factors in the accident were the crosswind and the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the wind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 1996 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Table Top Mountain · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-14 · all PA-14s on the register
- Registration
- N4229H · registry record · serial 14-32
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certificated private pilot was landing at an 800 foot long airstrip at 2,500 feet mean sea level. The strip was oriented north and south along a ridge. The pilot was landing to the south and indicated that the wind was coming upslope from the east about 12 to 15 knots. After touchdown, the pilot applied the brakes and the tail of the airplane began to rise. He released the brakes and added engine power to keep the tail down. The tail continued to rise and the airplane nosed over.
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: 305 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 262 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 30, 1995; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Z41 AK at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 800 ft by 15 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.
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.