# Accident 19990415020539A: Piper STCPA18, Anchorage, AK, April 15, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 15, 1999, 09:15 local time
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Airport: Merrill Field Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.1594° N, 149.9905° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1594&lon=-149.9905&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7696D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7696D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18A (registry code 7101804, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER STCPA18
- Reported engine: LYC O320A2B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC99LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA053) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990415020539A

## Narrative

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

ON APRIL 15, 1999, ABOUT 0915 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A TUNDRA TIRE, TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED PIPER PA-18 AIRPLANE, N7696D, RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHILE LANDING AT THE MERRILL FIELD AIRPORT, ANCHORAGE, ALASKA. THE SOLO PRIVATE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED.  THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) LOCAL AREA FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14, CFR PART 91, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.  DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE, ON MARCH 28, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 33, WHICH REQUIRED A CORRECTION FOR A LEFT CROSS WIND.  THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED SLIGHTLY AND SETTLED ONTO THE RIGHT MAIN TIRE.  THE RIGHT MAIN WHEEL "GRABBED" AS IT MADE CONTACT WITH THE RUNWAY, AND THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED TO THE LEFT.  DURING THE GROUND LOOP, THE RIGHT WING STRUCK A RUNWAY LIGHT, AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  THE CLOSEST WEATHER OBSERVATION STATION IS MERRILL FIELD.  ON APRIL 15, AT 0853, AN AVIATION ROUTINE WEATHER REPORT (METAR) WAS REPORTING IN PART:  SKY CONDITIONS AND CEILING, 6,500 SCATTERED; VISIBI LITY, 10 STATUTE MILES; WIND, 320 DEGREES (TRUE) AT 5 KNOTS. THE PILOT NOTED THAT THERE WERE NO PREACCIDENT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE.  (.4) THE SOLO PRIVATE PILOT WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 33 IN A TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED AIRPLANE ON A PAVED RUNWAY.  THE PILOT SAID THAT WIND CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT REQUIRED THAT THE PILOT CORRECT FOR A 10 KNOT, LEFT CROSSWIND FROM 240 DEGREES.  THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, A GUST OF WIND PUSHED THE AIRPLANE TO THE RIGHT, AND HE OVERCORRECTED TO THE LEFT.  HE ADDED THAT THE RIGHT MAIN WHEEL 'GRABBED' AND THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED TO THE LEFT. DURING THE GROUND LOOP, THE RIGHT WING STRUCK A RUNWAY LIGHT, AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  THE PILOT NOTED THAT THERE WERE NO PREACCIDENT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE.  THE CLOSEST WEATHER OBSERVATION STATION IS MERRILL FIELD. ON APRIL 15, AT 0853, AN AVIATION ROUTINE WEATHER REPORT (METAR) WAS REPORTING IN PART: SKY CONDITIONS AND CEILING, 6,500 SCATTERED; VISIBILITY, 10 STATUTE MILES; WIND, 320 DEGREES (TRUE) AT 5 KNOTS.                                                              (-23) PIC GROUND LOOPED UPON LANDING RWY 33, MERRILL FIELD, ANCHORAGE, ALAS KA. PILOT STATED THAT HIS EXPERIENCE LEVEL WAS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR THE WEATHER CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED. HE INDICATED THAT GUSTY CROSS WINDS WERE THE PRIMARY FACTOR IN HIS LOSS OF CONTROL DURING TOUCHDOWN. PILOT STATED THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT UPON TOUCHDOWN, HE OVER-CORRECTED TO THE LEFT AND GROUND LOOPED. THE LEFT WING CONTACTED A RUNWAY EDGE LIGHT. DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT WAS ESTIMATED UNDER $500 DOLLARS.

## 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 ANC99LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA053), Apr 15, 1999: Piper PA-18 (N7696D), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions. Factors associated with the accident were a crosswind, and an inadvertent ground loop.

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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