# Accident 19990203001199A: Piper PA18150, Anchorage, AK, February 3, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 3, 1999, 10:30 local time
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Airport: Lake Hood Spb
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground Taxi, Other Airplane
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.1606° N, 149.9890° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1606&lon=-149.9890&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7875D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7875D) (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 O320B2B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 8,500 total, 600 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC99TA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99TA026) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990203001199A

## Narrative

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

(.19)ON FEBRUARY 3, 1999, ABOUT 1030 ALASKA STANDARD TIME, A SKI EQUIPPED PIPER PA-18-150 AIRPLANE, N7875D, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHILE TAXIING AT LAKE HOOD, ANCHORAGE, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) LOCAL AREA FLIGHT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.  THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, ON A PUBLIC USE MISSION.  THE SOLO AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT WAS NOT INJURED.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND VFR COMPANY FLIGHT FOLLOWING PROCEDURES WERE IN EFFECT.  DURING AN INTERVIEW WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD (NTSB) INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE ON FEBRUARY 3, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS RETURNING TO A MAINTENANCE VENDOR'S HANGAR AFTER COMPLETING A MAINTENANCE OPERATIONAL CHECK FLIGHT.  HE SAID THAT WHILE TAXIING ON AN ICE COVERED PARKING AREA, HE APPLIED POWER TO TAXI UP A SMALL INCLINE.  HE SAID THAT ONCE THE AIRPLANE'S SKIS WENT OVER THE TOP OF THE INCLINE, HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE, AND THE LEFT WING STRUCK A PARKED MAINTENANCE TUG.  THE LEFT WING SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  THE PILOT NOTED THAT THERE WERE NO PREACCIDENT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE.                       (.4) THE CERTIFICATED AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT WAS RETURNING TO A MAINTENANCE VENDOR'S HANGAR AFTER COMPLETING A MAINTENANCE OPERATIONAL CHECK FLIGHT. HE SAID THAT WHILE TAXIING ON AN ICE COVERED PARKING AREA, HE APPLIED POWER TO TAXI UP A SMALL INCLINE.  HE SAID THAT AS THE AIRPLANE'S SKIS WENT OVER THE TOP OF THE INCLINE, HE CLOSED THE THROTTLE, AND REACHED FOR THE MIXTURE CONTROL CUT OFF.  HE NOTED THAT HIS SLEEVE CAUGHT ON THE THROTTLE CONTROL, ADVANCING IT TO THE OPEN POSITION.  HE SAID THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE, AND THE LEFT WING STRUCK A PARKED MAINTENANCE TUG. THE LEFT WING SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  THE PILOT NOTED THAT THERE WERE NO PREACCIDENT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE.

## 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 ANC99TA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99TA026), Feb 3, 1999: Piper PA-18-150 (N7875D), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's use of excessive taxispeed. Factors associated with the accident were an icy taxi area, and the inadvertent activation of the throttle.

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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