Casualties unknown

Loss of control during landing results in runway excursion (N8525D)

Fairbanks, AK, US

On September 16, 1985, a Piper PA-22-160 (registration N8525D) operated by Jesse L. Cole was involved in an aviation accident near Fairbanks, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion after the aircraft bounced on touchdown. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

Aircraft bounced on touchdown, veered off the right side of the runway, and struck a sign after losing directional control in quartering wind conditions.

What happened

The aircraft experienced a loss of control during the landing phase. The pilot was aware of right quartering wind conditions at the time. Upon initial touchdown, the aircraft bounced. Subsequently, the left wingtip and the left main landing gear contacted the runway surface first. This contact caused the aircraft to veer off the right side of the runway. During this excursion, the left horizontal stabilizer struck a small sign located near the runway edge.

The investigation

Examination of the event revealed that the initial bounce during touchdown contributed to the loss of directional control. The aircraft's trajectory shifted toward the right side of the paved surface following the impact with the runway. The subsequent contact between the left wingtip and the ground further destabilized the aircraft, leading to the veer-off. The final point of contact involved the horizontal stabilizer hitting a stationary object outside the designated runway area.

Findings

Contributing factors included the pilot's inability to maintain directional control after the bounce. The right quartering wind condition presented a challenge that was not fully mitigated during the critical touchdown phase. The sequence of events indicates that the initial bounce was the primary trigger for the loss of control, which led to the runway excursion and subsequent damage to the airframe and external objects.

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion after the aircraft bounced on touchdown.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001214X37677. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.