20200407003829A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-18A · Sylvester Glaci, AK · April 7, 2020

Date: April 7, 2020 · 12:39 local
Place: Sylvester Glaci, AK
Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N2791P
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC20CA041
Reported as: Piper PA-18A
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 400 total350 in this make and model25 in the last 90 days

N2791PRegistered now · Piper PA-18AS/N 18-4426 · Built 1955 Airframe modelPiper PA-18A 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.

Pilot states that she had intended to land on the glacier with one passenger. Decided to perform a go-around and applied power while turning into what she believed to be descending terrain. Pilot states that she recalls the skis contacting the terrain causing the aircraft to bounce and strike a snow drift. Aircraft came to rest on the glacier with the right wing becoming separated from the fuselage. Pilot states that while waiting to be picked up, she noticed that the wind was stronger than she had gauged and that the terrain appeared to be descending less rapidly than she'd gauged from the air..

As the FAA filed it

PILOT STATES THAT SHE HAD INTENDED TO LAND ON THE GLACIER WITH ONE PASSENGER. DECIDED TO PERFORM A GO-AROUND AND APPLIED POWER WHILE TURNING INTO WHAT SHE BELIEVED TO BE DESCENDING TERRAIN. PILOT STATES THAT SHE RECALLS THE SKIS CONTACTING THE TERRAIN CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO BOUNCE AND STRIKE A SNOW DRIFT. AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON THE GLACIER WITH THE RIGHT WING BECOMING SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE. PILOT STATES THAT WHILE WAITING TO BE PICKED UP, SHE NOTICED THAT THE WIND WAS STRONGER THAN SHE HAD GAUGED AND THAT THE TERRAIN APPEARED TO BE DESCENDING LESS RAPIDLY THAN SHE'D GAUGED FROM THE AIR..

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 ANC20CA041Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportChickaloon, AKThe pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which necessitated a go-around, and her subsequent failure to maintain clearance from rising mountainous terrain.Apr 7, 2020 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N2791P · 3

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

Incident 20220909009359ILanding: Rollout · Mccarthy, AKThe pilot completed an aerial inspection of a commonly used gravel landing strip and observed some areas with standing water. The pilot made the decision to land in a drier looking portion of the runway and plan to roll through the water. The pilot…Sep 9, 2022 · Reported as Pa-18 Supercub · Minor damage Accident 20161013021859ALanding: Rollout · Palmer, AKOn landing rollout at the picnic table strip on the knik glacier the aircraft hit a depression. The tail came up and the PIC lost lateral control. She then applied brakes and the aircraft nosed over onto its back.Oct 13, 2016 · Substantial damage Accident 20151221020179ACruise/Level Flight · Girdwood, AKAircraft departed Girdwood Airport (aqv) to the south. Pilot stated they were at 3000 ft AGL approx 10 miles from Girdwood when the engine quit producing power. Prop was still spinning. Accomplished one restart with no success. Landed aircraft on seward…Dec 21, 2015 · Substantial damage