# Accident 20210904016519A: Piper PA-18-150, Elfin Cove, AK, September 4, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 4, 2021, 10:00 local time
- Place: Elfin Cove, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 58.4064° N, 136.9837° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.4064&lon=-136.9837&mi=10
- Aircraft: N371SC, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N371SC) (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: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, unknown or foreign certificate
- Pilot flight hours: 9,126 total, 590 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC21LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA084) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210904016519A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT LANDED ON BEACH IN BOUSSOLE BAY, FROM NW TO SE DIRECTION, WITH A LEFT CROSSWIND (LAND BREEZE). COMBINATION OF UPHILL TURNING TENDENCY AFTER TOUCHDOWN AND AIRCRAFT WEATHERVANING INTO THE WIND CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO TURN UPHILL (NORTH-NORTHEAST) AND PILOT COULD NOT CORRECT WITH RUDDER. RIGHT GEAR GOT STUCK IN SOFT SAND AND FOLDED UNDER FUSELAGE, CAUSING RIGHT WING TO STRIKE, DAMAGING BOTH RIGHT WING SPARS. AIRCRAFT CAME TO A REST FACING UPHILL, APPROX. 45 MINUTES BEFORE HIGH TIDE. NO DAMAGE OTHER THAN RIGHT GEAR AND RIGHT WING. PILOT SHUTDOWN ENGINE AND BOTH OCCUPANTS GOT OUT. PILOT RESTARTED ENGINE ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER AS TIDE WAS COMING UP HOPING TO PULL AIRCRAFT ABOVE HIGH WATER LINE, TO NO AVAIL. WAVES AND RISING TIDE DAMAGED THE RUDDER AND RIGHT ELEVATOR, AND PUSHED THE EMPENNAGE UPHILL TO THE RIGHT, TURNING THE NOSE TO THE LEFT, IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF LANDING. OCCUPANTS RESCUED BY USCG HELICOPTER. AIRCRAFT WENT THRU 3 HIGH TIDES BEFORE RECOVERY, CAUSING IT TO BE FILLED WITH APPROX. 1000 LBS. OF SAND, DAMAGING THE FUSELAGE AND FURTHER DAMAGING REST OF THE AIRCRAFT. AIRCRAFT HELICOPTERED TO HANGAR IN HOONAH, AK.

## 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 ANC21LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA084), Sep 4, 2021: Piper PA-18-150 (N371SC), Gustavus, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during an off-airport beach landing.

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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