# Accident 20220829015269A: Piper PA-18-135, Knik Glacier, AK, August 29, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 29, 2022, 18:30 local time
- Place: Knik Glacier, AK
- Airport: N/A
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.3148° N, 148.5797° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.3148&lon=-148.5797&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1129, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1129) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18-135 (registry code 7101820, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-135) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-135
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 100 total, 39 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC22LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA074) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220829015269A

## Narrative

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

ON AUGUST 29, 2022, ABOUT 1830 LOCAL TIME, PIC STATED HE WAS FLYING NEAR KNIK GLACIER, AK, WHERE HE OBSERVED THE AREA PRIOR TO LANDING.  HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A SLOW APPROACH AND LAND ON AN UNFAMILIAR GRAVEL/SANDBAR.  PIC STATED THAT LANDING AREA WAS CLEAR OF OBSTRUCTIONS, VISIBILITY WAS CLEAR, AND VERY LITTLE TO NO CROSSWIND OR HEADWIND.  UPON TOUCHDOWN, TRANSITION TO LANDING ROLLOUT, AND AS THE TAIL WHEEL TOUCHED DOWN. THE PIC FELT AS IF THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH WIND OVER RUDDER AND THE AIRCRAFT’S TAIL BEGAN TO YAW LEFT. PIC IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPTED TO USE OPPOSITE RUDDER TO COMPENSATE AS THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO GROUND-LOOP TO THE LEFT. JUST AS THE RUDDER CORRECTION WAS PUT IN, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRE HIT A GRAVEL DIVOT; FORCING THE AIRCRAFT TO CONTINUE SPINNING TO THE LEFT.  THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO GROUND-LOOP; RESULTING IN THE LEFT WING AND ELEVATOR MAKING CONTACT WITH THE GROUND.

## 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 ANC22LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA074), Aug 30, 2022: Piper PA-18-135 (N1129), Palmer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop and impact with terrain.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.