# Accident 19970627017079A: Piper PA18150, Tok, AK, June 27, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 27, 1997, 07:30 local time
- Place: Tok, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 63.1794° N, 143.0999° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.1794&lon=-143.0999&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3685Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3685Z) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18-150 (registry code 7101828, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA18150
- Reported engine: LYC O320A2A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 10,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 32 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC97TA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97TA095) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970627017079A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4) THE SECOND PILOT WAS A RATED FLOAT PLANE PILOT, BUT DID NOT MEET THE CRITERIA TO ACT AS PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC) BY HIS EMPLOYER, THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS). THE PIC, WHO WAS ALSO EMPLOYED BY THE USFWS, WAS A CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, AND WAS GIVING ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION TO THE SECOND PILOT TO MEET THE USFWS STANDARDS FOR PIC. THE SECOND PILOT WAS FLYING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE TWO PILOTS HAD BEEN PRACTICING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS ON A LAKE. DURING THE APPROACH TO LAND, THE AIRPLANE'S FLOATS INADVERTENTLY TOUCHED ON A FLAT, GRASSY AREA SHORT OF THE WATER. ENGINE POWER WAS APPLIED, AND THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO THE LAKE TO MAKE AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING. POSTFLIGHT INSPECTION DISCLOSED A DAMAGED FUSELAGE NEAR THE LEFT FLOAT'S REAR ATTACHMENT POINT. THE PIC BELIEVES THE AIRPLANE MAY HAVE ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHING DOWN ON THE GRASSY AREA.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC97TA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97TA095), Jun 27, 1997: Piper PA-18-180 (N3685Z), Tok, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The second pilot/dual student's failure to maintain a proper glidepath, and the pilot-in-command/flight instructor's inadequate supervision. A factor associated with the accident was a downdraft.

## Other reports on N3685Z (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20040927024159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040927024159A), Sep 27, 2004: Piper PA18150 (N3685Z), Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) This flight was conducted under CFR 14 part 91. I interviewed the pilot and he stated that he was landing on muskeg and on rollout a soft area was…
- [Accident 20010816039759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010816039759A), Aug 16, 2001: Piper PA18150 (N3685Z), Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) During landing, the aircraft veered right and the pilot was unable to correct and subsequently the right main gear collapsed forcing the aircraft off to…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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