# Accident 20150721017119A: Piper PA-18-150, Grizzley Creek, AK, July 21, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 21, 2015, 17:00 local time
- Place: Grizzley Creek, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 62.4502° N, 149.7896° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4502&lon=-149.7896&mi=10
- Aircraft: N323DH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N323DH) (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: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 2,105 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC15CA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15CA054) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150721017119A

## Narrative

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

AIRMEN WAS MAKING SUPPLY RUNS TO GRIZZLY CREEK, 8 MILES EAST OF STEPHAN LAKE, ALASKA.  THE AIRSTRIP ELEVATION IS APPROXIMATELY 3500 FEET AND THERE WAS 10-15 KNOT HEADWIND.  THE AIRMEN STATED THAT HE ANTICIPATED A DOWN DRAFT CAUSED BY THE TERRAIN AND ELEVATION OF THE AIRSTRIP; FIRST LANDING OF THE DAY WAS UNEVENTFUL.

TWENTY-FIVE MINUTES LATER THE AIRMEN RETURNED WITH HIS SECOND LOAD OF SUPPLIES; THERE WAS STILL A 10-15 KNOT HEAD WIND, THE AIRMEN AGAIN ANTICIPATED A DOWNDRAFT.  THE AIRMEN STATED THAT HE HAD HIS FLAPS FULLY EXTENDED FOR THE LANDING, A FEW MOMENTS BEFORE TOUCHING DOWN THE AIRCRAFT WAS HIT BY A STRONG CROSSWIND.  THE FORCE OF THE CROSSWIND PUSHED THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT TO THE RIGHT.  THE AIRMEN APPLIED FULL POWER TO THE ENGINE, THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED INTO THE AIR BUT DID NOT CLIMB.  WHEN THE AIRCRAFT LEFT MAIN LANDING TIRE CONTACTED THE GROUND,  INERTIA HAD SHIFTED TO THE LEFT CAUSING THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TO SHIFT INBOARD AND AFT.  WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTED AFT, THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT WENT DOWN AND TO THE LEFT WING DROPPED.  BOTH THE PROPELLER AND LEFT WING CONTACT THE GROUND; THE AIRCRAFT SLID OF THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT.

## 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 ANC15CA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15CA054), Jul 22, 2015: Piper PA 18-150 (N323DH), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and improper recovery from a bounced landing resulting in a loss of control and collision with terrain.

## Other reports on N323DH (1)

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

- [Accident 20200515000919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200515000919A), May 15, 2020: Piper PA-18-150 (N323DH), Skwentna, AK, Substantial damage. Aircraft ground looped after touchdown.

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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