# Accident 20200602007559A: Piper PA-18-150, Kenai, AK, June 2, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 2, 2020, 20:15 local time
- Place: Kenai, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 60.9353° N, 151.9666° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.9353&lon=-151.9666&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8987Y, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8987Y) (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
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 600 total, 400 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC20CA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA056) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200602007559A

## Narrative

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

AIRMAN  WAS FLYING TO SMALL NARROW LANDING STRIP NEAR THE HEADWATERS OF THE KUSTATAN RIVER, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES NORTHWEST OF KENAI (ENA) VOR ON THE WEST SIDE OF COOK INLET.  THE AIRSTRIP IS MARGINALLY IMPROVED AND SURROUNDED BY LARGE TREES ON ALL SIDES.  ENA WEATHER WAS REPORTED AS CLEAR WITH WIND 090/10 AND 29.54 ALTIMETER.  AIRMAN SAID GUSTY CONDITIONS WITH TURBULENCE PREVAILED.

AIRMAN WAS TRYING TO LAND AT AIRSTRIP AND WAS "LOW AND SLOW" IN THE AIRCRAFT, AS THE RUNWAY IS SHORT.  HIS GPS SHOWED A GROUND SPEED OF 38 OR 39 MPH ON FINAL APPROACH.

JUST AS HE WAS APPROACHING THE TREE TOP LEVEL, A GUST OF WIND PUSHED HIM INTO THE TREES.  AT ABOUT 3 FEET AGL, WHILE LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT RIGHT WING HIT THE TREES AGAIN AND IT GROUND-LOOPED THE AIRCRAFT INTO A LARGE SPRUCE TREE.

## 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 ANC20CA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA056), Jun 2, 2020: Piper PA18 (N8987Y), Nikiski, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a ground loop.

## Other reports on N8987Y (1)

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

- [Accident 20210901019619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210901019619A), Sep 1, 2021: Piper PA-18-150 (N8987Y), AK, Substantial damage. On September 1, 2021 at approximately 1500 local time, N8987Y piloted [privacy data omitted]departed palmer airport after refueling for the purposes of a…

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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