# Accident 20230529005879A: Piper PA-18-150, Fairbanks, AK, May 29, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 29, 2023, 08:45 local time
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Airport: Chena River
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 64.8128° N, 147.9207° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8128&lon=-147.9207&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4488Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4488Z) (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: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,960 total, 34 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC23LA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA039) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230529005879A

## Narrative

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

WHEN LANDING ON THE CHENA RIVER ON FLOATS, WIND CONDITIONS WERE GUSTY WITH A RIGHT QUARTERING TAILWIND. PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT STRIKING THE RIGHT WING AND FLOAT INTO THE SHORE.

## 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 ANC23LA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA039), May 29, 2023: Piper PA-18-150 (N4488Z), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing with a quartering tailwind, which resulted in a water loop and impact with terrain.

## Other reports on N4488Z (1)

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

- [Accident 19911013046109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911013046109A), Oct 13, 1991: Piper PA18150 (N4488Z), Telluride, CO, Substantial damage. Adverse winds circling in a bowl. Unable to climb out. Elected to land. Shifting wind caused aircraft 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.

---
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.