# NTSB ANC00LA028: Piper PA-18, N7164B, Willow, AK, February 17, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 17, 2000, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Willow, AK - Coordinates: 61.890029, -149.72911 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.8900&lon=-149.7291&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 48737 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48737/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA028 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. Factors in the accident were soft, snow covered terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was landing a tundra tire equipped airplane at a remote area next to a frozen river. The pilot had landed at the same location the previous day to assist his passenger in locating a lost snow machine. Overnight, about 4 to 6 inches of snow fell in the area. On the accident date, the pilot landed in his tracks from the previous day. During the landing roll, the new snow layer slowed the airplane dramatically, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane received damage to the vertical stabilizer, the rudder, and the left wing lift strut. ## Factual narrative On February 17, 2000, about 1130 Alaska standard time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N7164B, sustained substantial damage during landing at a remote area, about 20 miles west-southwest of Willow, Alaska, at latitude 61 degrees, 47.60 minutes north, and longitude 150 degrees, 43.17 minutes west. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The commercial certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Birchwood Airport, Chugiak, Alaska, about 1100. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on February 18, 2000, the pilot reported he landed along the Yentna River the previous day to assist the passenger in locating a lost snow machine. Overnight, about 4 to 6 inches of snow fell in the area. On the accident date, the pilot landed in his tracks from the previous day. During the landing roll, he said the new snow layer slowed the airplane dramatically, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane received damage to the vertical stabilizer, the rudder, and the left wing lift strut. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7164B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7164B), registered now, S/N 18-5190, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - 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: 18-5190 - Airframe hours: 5026 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Larry D. Nicholson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 6, 1999, 59 hours before - Departed: PABV, CHUGIAK, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 3,867 total, 2,887 in this make and model, 3,867 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken - Temperature: 19 °F ## 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 20000217042069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000217042069A), Feb 17, 2000: Piper PA18150, Willow, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On February 15th 2000 the pilot of super cub N7164B was attempting to land on the snow covered yenta river 45 miles west of anchorage Alaska. N7164B was… ## Other investigations on N7164B (2) 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 ANC20CA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA051), May 28, 2020: Piper PA18 (N7164B), Sterling, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with trees. - [NTSB ANC80DAG59](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80DAG59), Jul 15, 1980: Piper PA-18 (N7164B), Iliamna, AK, substantial damage 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.