# NTSB ANC00LA051: Piper PA-18, N4418Z, Seldovia, AK, April 29, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 29, 2000, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Seldovia, AK - Coordinates: 59.390064, -151.659103 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.3901&lon=-151.6591&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 9, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 49085 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA051 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49085/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA051 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. A factor in the accident was an inadvertent ground swerve. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was landing a tundra tire equipped airplane on a gravel runway. The winds were light and variable. The pilot said that during the landing roll, just before the tailwheel touched the runway, a wind gust pushed the tail of the airplane to the right. A second gust of wind then pushed the tail to the left. The pilot said he was unable to fully control the direction of the airplane, and decided to add engine power and abort the landing. The airplane veered to the left and the left main wheel contacted the surface of a tidal slough. The right wing then struck the surface of the slough, and the airplane inverted in about five feet of water. Both occupants of the airplane exited the airplane from underwater. The airplane received damage to both wings and the propeller. ## Factual narrative On April 29, 2000, about 1100 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N4418Z, sustained substantial damage during landing at Seldovia, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The commercial certificated pilot, and the sole passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska, about 0935. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on April 29, 2000, the pilot reported he was landing on runway 16 at Seldovia. He said the wind was reported as light and variable. During the landing roll, just before the tailwheel touched the runway, a wind gust pushed the tail of the airplane to the right. A second gust of wind then pushed the tail to the left. The pilot said he was unable to fully control the direction of the airplane, and decided to add engine power and abort the landing. The airplane veered to the left and the left main wheel contacted the surface of a tidal slough. The right wing then struck the surface of the slough, and the airplane inverted in about five feet of water. Both occupants exited the airplane from underwater. The airplane received damage to both wings and the propeller. At 1053, an Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) at Seldovia was reporting, in part: Wind, variable at 5 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 6,500 feet scattered; temperature, 43 degrees F; dew point, 35 degrees F; altimeter, 29.57 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4418Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4418Z), registered now, S/N 18-8753, built 1968 (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: 18-8753 - Airframe hours: 3654 - Engines: Lycoming O-320B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Leonard G. Bryant - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 25, 2000, 3 hours before - Departed: PAMR, ANCHORAGE, AK - Destination: PASO - Airport: PASO, Seldovia, runway 16, 1,845 × 60 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 875 total, 271 in this make and model, 741 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PAS ## 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 20000429042019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000429042019A), Apr 29, 2000: Piper PA18150, Seldovia, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated turbulence light/moderate, winds very gusty. He was landing to the south following traffic. After touch down and just as tail wheel came… ## Other investigations on N4418Z (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 ANC03LA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA111), Sep 8, 2003: Piper PA-18-160 (N4418Z), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall, and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain. A factor associated with the accident was a downdraft. - [NTSB ANC86FA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC86FA071), Jun 10, 1986: Piper PA-18 (N4418Z), Girdwood, 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.