# Accident 20130513009949A: Piper PA-18A, Homer, AK, May 13, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 13, 2013, 15:00 local time
- Place: Homer, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 60.1739° N, 152.7167° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.1739&lon=-152.7167&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2496P, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2496P) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18A (registry code 7101804, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a) (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-18A
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,000 total, 800 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC13CA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13CA045) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130513009949A

## Narrative

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

AIRMAN WAS ATTEMPTING A BEACH LANDING NEAR TUXEDNI BAY, ALASKA.  AIRMAN PERFORMED THREE LOW PASSES OVER THE INTENDED BEACH LANDING AREA TO ENSURE THE SURFACE WAS IN ACCEPTABLE CONDITION.  AIRMAN DETERMINED THE BEACH WAS IN GOOD CONDITION, WITH NO LARGE OBSTRUCTIONS AND NO ICE.  THE LANDING SURFACE OF THE BEACH WAS SLOPED FROM THE LEFT TO THE RIGHT, WITH THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT BEING ON THE SHORE LINE SIDE.

THE AIRMAN ESTABLISHED THE AIRCRAFT ON A FINAL APPROACH TO LANDING.  THE WIND WAS MOSTLY CALM WITH AN OCCASIONAL GUST TO 15 MPH.  WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, NO WIND CORRECTION WAS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN THE DESIRED FLIGHT PATH TO LANDING.  AS THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE INTENDED LANDING SURFACE THE AIRMAN BROUGHT THE THROTTLE TO NEAR IDLE.  AT THIS SAME TIME, A GUST OF WIND STRUCK THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE RIGHT SIDE.   AS SOON AS HE FELT THE WIND GUST, HE MADE A FULL CORRECTION OF OPPOSITE FLIGHT CONTROLS IN AN ATTEMPT TO COUNTERACT THE GUST OF WIND.  BECAUSE OF THE STEEP ANGLE OF THE LANDING SURFACE, THIS GUST PUSHED THE LEFT WING TIP DOWN SO QUICKLY THAT IT STRUCK THE BEACH, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO GROUND LOOP.  DURING THE GROUND LOOP, THE RIGHT WING TIP SWUNG AROUND AND IMPACTED A SMALL TREE NEAR THE SHORE LINE.  THE AIRMAN WAS UNINJURED.

## 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 ANC13CA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13CA045), May 13, 2013: Piper PA-18A (N2496P), Nikiski, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, resulting in contact with terrain, and a ground loop.

## Other reports on N2496P (2)

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

- [Accident 19760809024399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760809024399A), Aug 9, 1976: Piper PA18A (N2496P), Kodiak, AK, Substantial damage
- [Accident 19740615024139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740615024139A), Jun 15, 1974: Piper PA18A (N2496P), Homer, AK, Substantial damage. Float equipped. Attmptd tkof from small lake,settled into bank.

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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