20150720013269A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-18A 150 · Beluga Lake, AK · July 20, 2015

Date: July 20, 2015 · 14:50 local
Place: Beluga Lake, AK
Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N2868P
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC15CA059
Reported as: Piper PA-18A 150
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 889 total672 in this make and model50 in the last 90 days

N2868PRegistered now · Piper PA-18A 150S/N 18-4457 Airframe modelPiper PA-18A 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.

PIC stated he made several surveys of the clearing he intended to land on by Beluga Lake at 700' AGL. After making multiple low approaches he decided to land. PIC stated that after touchdown, the left wingtip struck some bushes on the northwest side of the clearing, and the tailwheel struck something that forced the tail into the air and caused the prop to strike the ground. The PIC was unable to maintain control of the aircraft, and it ended up in a ditch on the side of the clearing.

PIC and passenger exited the aircraft uninjured. PIC stated that there was a prop strike, left wingtip, and airframe damage to the fuselage behind the baggage compartment, and in the empennage area.

As the FAA filed it

PIC STATED HE MADE SEVERAL SURVEYS OF THE CLEARING HE INTENDED TO LAND ON BY BELUGA LAKE AT 700' AGL. AFTER MAKING MULTIPLE LOW APPROACHES HE DECIDED TO LAND. PIC STATED THAT AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE LEFT WINGTIP STRUCK SOME BUSHES ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF THE CLEARING, AND THE TAILWHEEL STRUCK SOMETHING THAT FORCED THE TAIL INTO THE AIR AND CAUSED THE PROP TO STRIKE THE GROUND. THE PIC WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, AND IT ENDED UP IN A DITCH ON THE SIDE OF THE CLEARING.

PIC AND PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRCRAFT UNINJURED. PIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROP STRIKE, LEFT WINGTIP, AND AIRFRAME DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE BEHIND THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT, AND IN THE EMPENNAGE AREA.

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 ANC15CA059Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBeluga, AKThe pilot's decision to land with insufficient obstacle clearance. The pilot's failure to maintain directional control after landing resulting in a collision with terrain.Jul 20, 2015 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N2868P · 1

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

Incident 20120930021609ILanding: Rollout · Chugiak, AKDuring an instructional flight, the flight instructor (CFI) was evaluating a student for re-solo. During the landing roll out the aircraft experienced a slight yaw to the right which caused it to leave the center line of rwy 20R at pabv (student flying).the…Sep 30, 2012 · Minor damage