# Accident 20230102001149A: Piper PA-18-150, Nikiski, AK, January 2, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 2, 2023, 14:57 local time
- Place: Nikiski, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 60.7264° N, 151.2992° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7264&lon=-151.2992&mi=10
- Aircraft: N94X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N94X) (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: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 778 total, 320 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC23LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA011) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230102001149A

## Narrative

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

ON 02 JANUARY 2023 AT APPROX 1457 LOCAL, A PIPER AIRCRAFT MODEL PA-18-150 WITH ONE PERSON ON BOARD LANDED ON NURPHY ST., AN ADJOINING/PERPENDICULAR ROAD TO MCGAHAN INDUSTRIAL AIRSTRIP, AK73, IN NIKISKI, AK.  THE AIRSTRIP WAS UNPLOWED AT THE TIME, AND NURPHY ST. WAS PLOWED.  UPON LANDING THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT AND CONTACTED DEEPER SNOW PULLED RIGHT INTO THE SNOWBERM AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL AIRCRAFT DAMAGE AND MINOR INJURIES TO THE PILOT.  FROM PILOT'S WRITTEN STATEMENT:  'RETURNING FROM KENAI I MADE AN APPROACH TO LAND ON NURPHY ROAD ON THE NORTH SIDE OF 07/25 RUNWAY FROM SOUTH TO NORTH.  DUE TO LOW/FLAT LIGHT CONDITIONS I INADVERTANTLY DRIFTED TOO FAR RIGHT AFTER TOUCHING DOWN WHICH CAUSED THE RIGHT SIDE TIRE TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH UNPLOWED SNOW NEXT TO THE SNOW BURM.  I APPLIED LEFT RUDDER AND BRAKE ON LEFT WHEEL WITH NO EFFECT DUE TO NO TRACTION ON TUNDRA TIRES AND WARM CONDITIONS AND TOO SLOW FOR RUDDER EFFECT, THE PLANE CONTINUED DRIFTING RIGHT INTO THE SNOW BURM WHICH CAUSED THE PLANE TO NOSE OVER AND BECOME INVERTED.  RUNWAY 07/25 WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR WHEELS AS IT IS UNPLOWED FOR SKI EQUIPED ARICRAFT USE.'

## 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 ANC23LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA011), Jan 2, 2023: Piper PA-18-150 (N94X), Kenai, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing in flat light conditions, resulting in the airplane to nose over.

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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