# NTSB ANC00LA011: Piper PA-18-150, N8918Y, Seward, AK, October 19, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 19, 1999, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Seward, AK - Coordinates: 60.050106, -149.330581 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.0501&lon=-149.3306&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 47767 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47767/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA011 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident were a crosswind, and a downdraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The certificated private pilot was landing to the south on a 600 feet long gravel airstrip. The pilot stated that he thought the winds were fairly calm as he approached to land, but just before touchdown, the wind increased to an estimated 45 miles per hour from out of the south-southeast. He said that a strong downdraft pushed the airplane to the ground, and the main landing gear struck the airstrip, and the airplane nosed down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage longerons, both landing gear attach points, and both wing spars. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On October 19, 1999, about 1200 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N8918Y, sustained substantial damage while landing at a remote airstrip on Latouche Island, about 48 miles east of Seward, Alaska, at latitude 60 degrees, 40 minutes north, and longitude 147 degrees, 59 minuets west. The solo commercial pilot/airplane owner was not injured. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on November 3, the pilot stated that he was flying to his cabin located on the northern tip of Latouche Island, after making an overnight stop on Montague Island. He said that after departing Montague Island for the short flight to Latouche Island, he thought the winds were fairly calm as he approached to land at his cabin site. He said that while landing to the south, and just before touchdown, the wind increased to an estimated 45 miles per hour from out of the south-southeast, and a strong downdraft pushed the airplane to the ground. He said the main landing gear struck the airstrip, and the airplane nosed down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage longerons, both landing gear attach points, and both wing spars. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8918Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8918Y), registered now, S/N 18-7409036, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-7409036 - Airframe hours: 1766 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Leonard D. Ferucci - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 3, 1997 - Departed: IEM, MONTAGUE ISLAND, AK - Airport: runway 18, 600 × ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,600 total, 1,600 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 45 knots, gusting 50 - Lowest ceiling: none ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19991019032159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991019032159A), Oct 19, 1999: Piper PA18150, Seward, AK, Substantial damage. (.4) On October 19, 1999, about 1200 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N8918Y, sustained substantial damage while landing at a… ## Other investigations on N8918Y (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 ANC04LA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA073), Jul 5, 2004: Piper PA-18-160 (N8918Y), Chugiak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's excessive use of the airplane's brakes during the landing roll, which resulted in the airplane nosing over. A factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain… 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. --- 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.