# Accident 19991019032159A: Piper PA18150, Seward, AK, October 19, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 19, 1999, 12:00 local time
- Place: Seward, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 60.0501° N, 149.3306° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.0501&lon=-149.3306&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8918Y, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8918Y) (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: 1,600 total, 1,600 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC00LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA011) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991019032159A

## Narrative

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

(.4) ON OCTOBER 19, 1999, ABOUT 1200 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A WHEEL EQUIPPED PIPER PA-18-150 AIRPLANE, N8918Y, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHILE LANDING AT A REMOTE AIRSTRIP ON LATOUCHE ISLAND, ABOUT 48 MILES EAST OF SEWARD, ALASKA, AT LATITUDE 60 DEGREES, 40 MINUTES NORTH, AND LONGITUDE 147 DEGREES, 59 MINUETS WEST. THE SOLO COMMERCIAL PILOT/AIRPLANE OWNER WAS NOT INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) PERSONAL 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 NTSB INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE ON NOVEMBER 3, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS FLYING TO HIS CABIN LOCATED ON THE NORTHERN TIP OF LATOUCHE ISLAND, AFTER MAKING AN OVERNIGHT STOP ON MONTAGUE ISLAND. HE SAID THAT AFTER DEPARTING MONTAGUE ISLAND FOR THE SHORT FLIGHT TO LATOUCHE ISLAND, HE THOUGHT THE WINDS WERE FAIRLY CALM AS HE APPROACHED TO LAND AT HIS CABIN SITE. HE SAID THAT WHILE LANDING TO THE SOUTH, AND JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, THE WIND INCREASED TO AN ESTIMATED 45 MILES PER HOUR FROM OUT OF THE SOUTH-SOUTHEAST, AND A STRONG DOWNDRAFT PUSHED THE AIRPLANE TO THE GROUND. HE SAID THE MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCK THE AIRSTRIP, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED DOWN. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LOWER FUSELAGE LONGERONS, BOTH LANDING GEAR ATTACH POINTS, AND BOTH WING SPARS. THE PILOT NOTED THAT THERE WERE NO PREACCIDENT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE. (-23) PILOT ATTEMPTED LANDING IN VERY STRONG CROSSWIND. PILOT LOST CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT CAUSING THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 ANC00LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA011), Oct 19, 1999: Piper PA-18-150 (N8918Y), Seward, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident were a crosswind, and a downdraft.

## Other reports on N8918Y (1)

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

- [Accident 20040705012219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040705012219A), Jul 5, 2004: Piper PA18150 (N8918Y), Birchwood, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot was practicing landings on gravel runway 1R at Birchwood, AK (bcv). Wind was left crosswind, estimated 300 degrees @ 8 knots. After 4 touch…

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.