# Incident 20150414011429I: Piper PA-18-150, Fairbanks, AK, April 14, 2015

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 14, 2015, 20:00 local time
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Airport: Fairbanks International Airpor
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 64.8154° N, 147.8567° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at FAIRBANKS INTL (FAI), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8154&lon=-147.8567&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4894A, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4894A) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18-150 (registry code 7101828, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (registry code 42101, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-a2b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 600 total, 200 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150414011429I

## Narrative

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

RETURNING FLIGHT TO FAI I OBTAINED CURRENT ATIS, CALLED APPROACH FOR TERSA TRACKING, WAS TRANSFERRED TO TOWER AND RECEIVED CLEARANCE TO LAND ON RUNWAY 20L.

INITIAL ATIS BROADCAST REPORTED WINDS OUT OF THE SOUTHEAST 8 KNOTS, TOWER REPORTED A SLIGHT SHIFT BUT STILL SIMILAR (8-10) KNOTS OUT OF THE SOUTHEAST DURING ENTRY INTO PATTERN.  THE PILOT STATED "I BROKE MY OWN CARDINAL RULE OF NEVER LANDING DOWNWIND" WHEN I ACCEPTED CLEARANCE TO LAND ON 20L.

AIRCRAFT IS EQUIPPED WITH 31" BUSHWHEELS IE. TUNDRA TIRES WHICH ARE "STICKY" AND BETTER UTILIZED ON UNPAVED LANDING AREAS. THE SKI STRIP WAS CLOSED TO AIRCRAFT OTHER THAN WHEEL/SKI EQUIPPED AIRCRAFT SO I CAVED TO TOWER AND ACCEPTED CLEARANCE ON PAVEMENT. PATTERN ENTRY, BASE, FINAL ALL NORMAL EXCEPT FOR SHORT FINAL WITH INCREASED GROUND SPEED DUE TO QUARTERING TAILWIND. I PERFORMED A "TICK" TOUCHDOWN AT BEGINNING OF RUNWAY TO GET THE TIRES SPINNING AND THEN SETTLED BACK DOWN UNEVENTFULLY. DURING ROLLOUT I LOST RUDDER AUTHORITY AND SUBSEQUENTLY DIRECTIONAL CONTROL STEERING, I ATTEMPTED HEAVY BRAKE INPUT BUT WAS UNABLE TO ARREST THE TAIL FROM SWINGING AROUND AND THE RIGHT WING TOUCHED THE PAVEMENT. I TAXIED TO PARKING AND MET AUTHORITIES THERE.

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS IN A NUT SHELL:

-LACK OF EXPERIENCE WITH TUNDRA TIRES ON PAVEMENT.-DOWNWIND LANDING IN HINDSIGHT I SHOULD NOT HAVE ACCEPTED CLEARANCE TO LAND ON 20L AND REQUESTED SKI 2 "AT MY OWN RISK" AND LANDED INTO THE WIND ON A MORE SUITABLE SURFACE.

## Other reports on N4894A (5)

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

- [Accident 19910919043769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910919043769A), Sep 19, 1991: Piper PA18150 (N4894A), Eagle, AK, Substantial damage. Struck rock on departing gravel bar. Stayed aloft but right main gear collapsed landing at base. Bent wing strut.
- [Incident 19860813046649I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860813046649I), Aug 13, 1986: Piper PA18150 (N4894A), Eagle, AK, Minor damage. Left brake bound up on landing. Rolled over a soft spot. Aircraft nosed over.
- [Accident 19830814040509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830814040509A), Aug 14, 1983: Piper PA18150 (N4894A), Eagle, AK, Substantial damage. Struck trees on attempted depart from an uphill wet grass field. Field was adjacent to Eagle gravel runway.
- [Incident 19780714043959I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780714043959I), Jul 14, 1978: Piper PA18 (N4894A), Bethel, AK, Minor damage. Pilot lost directional control after touchdown.
- [Incident 19780126005039I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780126005039I), Jan 26, 1978: Piper PA18 (N4894A), Newtok, AK, Minor damage. Pilot lost directional control after encountering rough surface conditions.

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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