20100506004919A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-18-150 · Cold Bay, AK · May 6, 2010

Date: May 6, 2010 · 15:00 local
Place: Cold Bay, AK
Airport: Port Moller Airport
Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N3774Z
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC10CA037
Reported as: Piper PA-18-150
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,700 total2,300 in this make and model30 in the last 90 days

N3774ZRegistered now · Piper PA-18-150S/N 18-7454 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.

While turning left to land at a remote gravel strip, the pilot stated the aircraft failed to turn and then stalled. The aircraft crashed short of the landing strip. The aircraft is now stuck in the mud in very marshy terrain. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the right wing, landing gear, belly pod, cowl, and propeller. Some motor mount damage is evident.

As the FAA filed it

WHILE TURNING LEFT TO LAND AT A REMOTE GRAVEL STRIP, THE PILOT STATED THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO TURN AND THEN STALLED. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED SHORT OF THE LANDING STRIP. THE AIRCRAFT IS NOW STUCK IN THE MUD IN VERY MARSHY TERRAIN. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING, LANDING GEAR, BELLY POD, COWL, AND PROPELLER. SOME MOTOR MOUNT DAMAGE IS EVIDENT.

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 ANC10CA037Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPort Moller, AKThe loss of the left rudder cable retaining bolt during base to final turn, resulting in a loss of control and impact with terrain.May 6, 2010 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N3774Z · 2

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

Accident 20000904009009ATanana, AK(-23) Landing on a sandbar pilot lost control, ground looped aircraft damaged left outboard wing, rear spar and left elevator.Sep 4, 2000 · No damage Accident 19950705016659ARoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Palmer, AKLanded on unimproved remote strip. Veered off edge of strip. Tail wheel caught in rocks. Pulled from empannage.Jul 5, 1995 · Substantial damage