20030907025469A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-18-150 · Skwentna, AK · September 7, 2003

Date: September 7, 2003 · 19:45 local
Place: Skwentna, AK
Phase of flight: Final Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N4418Z
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC03LA111
Reported as: Piper PA18150
Reported engine: Lycoming O320*
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 300 total30 in this make and model30 in the last 90 days

N4418ZRegistered now · Piper PA-18-150S/N 18-8753 · Built 1968 Airframe modelPiper PA-18-150 Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) According to the pilot, the aircraft was flown low over the unimproved strip to determine its suitability for landing. The landing was for the purpose of looking for game. The approach to the strip commenced around dusk. After lowering one notch of flaps, a sharp bank to the strip was initiated and a high rate of descent was recognized. Full power was added but contact with the ground occurred before the power took effect.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLOWN LOW OVER THE UNIMPROVED STRIP TO DETERMINE ITS SUITABILITY FOR LANDING. THE LANDING WAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF LOOKING FOR GAME. THE APPROACH TO THE STRIP COMMENCED AROUND DUSK. AFTER LOWERING ONE NOTCH OF FLAPS, A SHARP BANK TO THE STRIP WAS INITIATED AND A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT WAS RECOGNIZED. FULL POWER WAS ADDED BUT CONTACT WITH THE GROUND OCCURRED BEFORE THE POWER TOOK EFFECT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC03LA111Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSkwentna, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall, and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain. A factor associated with the accident was a downdraft.Sep 8, 2003 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N4418Z · 2

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

Accident 20000429042019AGo Round (Aborted VFR) · Seldovia, AK(-23) Pilot stated turbulence light/moderate, winds very gusty. He was landing to the south following traffic. After touch down and just as tail wheel came down a side gust tried to push the aircraft to the right, which he managed to control and then got a…Apr 29, 2000 · Substantial damage Accident 19860610023209ASfl Traffic Pattern · Girdwood, AKThe aircraft hit the ground short of the runway due to downdraft. Aircraft STC for oversize tires not logged.Jun 10, 1986 · Substantial damage