# Accident 20110816018579A: Piper PA-18-150, Cordova, AK, August 16, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 16, 2011, 14:45 local time
- Place: Cordova, AK
- Airport: Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith Airpo
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 60.0394° N, 143.5858° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.0394&lon=-143.5858&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4205Z, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4205Z-2017-07-06) (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 PA-18-150
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 27,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC11LA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11LA080) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110816018579A

## Narrative

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

ALASKA STATE TROOPER (AST) SPOTTED ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT ON ROUTINE PATROL AT THE MOUTH OF THE SEAL RIVER APPROXIMATELY 62 SE OF CORDOVA ALASKA. ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT WAS RESTING IN THE WATER . AST LANDED AND WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THERE WERE NO OCCUPANTS IN ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT. AST SECURED ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT.AST CONTACTED C-206 THAT WAS OVERHEAD WHO HAD ON BOARD A MEMBER OF A PARTY STAYING AT A CABIN 25 MILES AWAY. THEY WERE LOOKING FOR ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT WHO WAS OVERDUE. AST WAS TOLD THAT TWO MEN WENT TO GET ICE FOR COOLERS AND DID NOT RETURN. AST WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE BY TRACKS ON THE SAND THE FOLLOWING:ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT LANDED THEN HAD FOOTPRINTS TO AND FROM WATER.ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT DEPARTURE TRACKS APPEARS TO HAVE STRUCK A LIP IN THE BEACH WHICH SLOWED THE AIRCRAFT AND THEN BOUNCED, STRUCK A STUMP AND VEERED INTO THE WATER.THE SEATBELT HARNESSES WERE RELEASED NOT CUT OR RIPPED.  IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE SWEPT AWAY BY THE SWIFT CURRENT OF THE RIVER AFTER EGRESS.THE PASSENGER'S BODY WASHED ASHORE SEVERAL DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT.  THE PILOT HAS NOT BEEN FOUND AND IS PRESUMMED TO HAVE RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.

## 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 ANC11LA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11LA080), Aug 16, 2011: Piper PA-18-150 (N4205Z), Cape Yakataga, AK, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: A collision into water during initial climb after takeoff for undetermined reasons.

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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