# Accident 20111022024819A: Piper PA-18-150, Spencer Glacier, AK, October 22, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 22, 2011, 14:00 local time
- Place: Spencer Glacier, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 55.9201° N, 159.4907° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.9201&lon=-159.4907&mi=10
- Aircraft: N82481, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82481) (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: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 4,700 total, 3,150 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC12CA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA005) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111022024819A

## Narrative

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

ON 10/22/2011, THE PILOT AND A PASSENGER FLEW FROM BIRCHWOOD AIRPORT (BCV) TO AN UNIMPROVED STRIP NEAR SPENCER GLACIER, ALASKA. HE STATED THAT HE HAD LANDED ON THE SAME LOCATION A COUPLE OF YEARS PREVIOUSLY. HE SAID THAT HE MADE A FLY-BY BEFORE ATTEMPTING A LANDING. DURING LANDING ROLL, BOTH WINGS CONTACTED COTTONWOOD SAPLINGS AND UNDERGROWTH. THE LEFT WING HIT A LARGER PIECE CAUSING THE PLANE TO TURN SHARPLY 90 DEGREES TO THE LEFT. THE PLANE DROPPED APPROXIMATELY 18 INCHES INTO A DITCH AS IT CAME OFF OF THE STRIP AND ROLLED TO THE RIGHT CAUSING THE RIGHT WING AND AILERON TO CONTACT THE GROUND CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER  EGRESSED THE AIRPLANE UNINJURED, SECURED THE PLANE TO A TREE, AND RECEIVED A RIDE TO PORTAGE BY RAILROAD WORKERS WHO WERE IN THE AREA AND WITNESSED WHAT HAD OCCURED. THEY SUBSEQUENTLY WENT HOME THAT EVENING.THE NEXT DAY, 10/23/2011, THE PILOT FLEW WITH A MECHANIC BACK TO THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE MECHANIC MADE FIELD REPAIRS TO THE AIRPLANE. NO MAINTENANCE SIGN-OFFS WERE MADE AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PILOT DID NOT ATTEMPT TO GET A SPECIAL FLIGHT PERMIT IN ORDER TO FLY THE AIRPLANE OUT.THE MECHANIC DEPARTED AND THE PILOT DECIDED TO FLY THE AIRPLANE BACK TO BCV FOR REPAIRS. HE STATED THAT THE WEATHER WAS FORCASTED TO GET BAD AND NEEDED TO MOVE THE AIRPLANE TO AVOID BAD WEATHER.

## 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 ANC12CA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA005), Oct 22, 2011: Piper PA-18-150 (N82481), Portage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing.

## Other reports on N82481 (2)

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

- [Accident 19801005048809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801005048809A), Oct 5, 1980: Piper PA18150 (N82481), Hillsboro, OR, Substantial damage. Made bad wheel landing bounced, lost control and ground looped.
- [Incident 19790624016299I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790624016299I), Jun 24, 1979: Piper PA18150 (N82481), Hillsboro, OR, Minor damage. Student pilot landed hard, lost directional control, then nosed up along side runway.

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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