# Accident 19980903039959A: Piper PA18150, Cordova, AK, September 3, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 3, 1998, 20:20 local time
- Place: Cordova, AK
- Airport: Merle K (Mudhole) Smith Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 60.7899° N, 145.6103° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7899&lon=-145.6103&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8464Y, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8464Y) (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 O320A1A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,800 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA139) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980903039959A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 3, 1998, ABOUT 2030 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A WHEEL EQUIPPED PIPER PA-18 AIRPLANE, N8464Y, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHILE LANDING AT A REMOTE, OFF AIRPORT SITE LOCATED ABOUT 40 MILES EAST OF CORDOVA, ALASKA. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND THE ONE PASSENGER ABOARD SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT OPERATED IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN. THE FLIGHT LAST DEPARTED THE MERIE K. SMITH AIRPORT, CORDOVA, ABOUT 1915. THE DESTINATION WAS THE ACCIDENT SITE. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR IN CHARGE ON SEPTEMBER 4, BEGINNING AT 1015, THE PILOT RELATED HE AND THE AIRPLANE'S OWNER, THE SOLE PASSENGER ABOARD, WERE LANDING AT THE REMOTE SITE TO GO HUNTING. THE PILOT SAID DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRES ENCOUNTERED BRUSH AND WEEDS, THE AIRPLANE DECELERATED RAPIDLY, AND THEN NOSE OVER. HE ALSO SAID THERE WERE NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE AND THAT THE SHOULDER HARNESS INSTALLED IN THE AIRPLANE SAVED HIM AND THE PASSENGER FROM SERIOUS INJURY. (.4) THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS LANDING THE AIRPLANE AT AN OFF-AIRPORT SITE IN RURAL ALASKA. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE MAIN LANDING  GEAR ENCOUNTERED BRUSH AND WEEDS, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE PILOT CREDITED THE SHOULDER HARNESSES INSTALLED IN THE AIRPLANE WITH KEEPING THE INJURIES TO HIMSELF AND HIS PASSENGER MINOR.

## 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 ANC98LA139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA139), Sep 4, 1998: Piper PA-18 (N8464Y), Cordova, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsuitable off airport site for landing. A factor associated with the accident was high vegetation (brush and weeds) in the landing area.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.