# NTSB ANC00LA080: Piper PA-18, N7437, Nikiski, AK, June 26, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 25, 2000, 20:00 local (Jun 26, 2000, 04:00 UTC) - Place: Nikiski, AK - Location: 60.6903° N, 151.2889° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Nikiski, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.6903&lon=-151.2889&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 49535 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49535/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA080 ## Probable cause A bear running onto the landing area during the landing flare. A factor associated with the accident was the high vegetation on the edge of the airstrip. ## Analysis The pilot said that during the landing flare on the 900 feet long by 45 feet wide gravel airstrip, a bear ran onto the landing area. The pilot said she maneuvered the airplane to avoid the bear and applied the brakes. The right wing contacted brush, and the airplane was pulled off the right side of the airstrip. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the both wingtips, and the tail assembly. ## Factual narrative On June 25, 2000, about 2000 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N7437, sustained substantial damage when it contacted brush during landing on a remote airstrip on the Kustatan River, about 28 miles west-northwest of Nikiski, Alaska, at 60 degrees, 58 minutes north latitude, 152 degrees, 00 minutes west longitude. The private pilot and the one passenger on board received no injuries. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and departed the Arness Lake airstrip at Kenai, Alaska, at 1915. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) during a telephone interview on June 26, and wrote in her NTSB Pilot/Operator report, that during the landing flare on the 900 feet long by 45 feet wide gravel airstrip, a bear ran onto the landing area. The pilot said she maneuvered to avoid the bear and applied the brakes. The right wing contacted brush, and the airplane was pulled off the right side of the airstrip. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the both wingtips, and the tail assembly. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Abrupt maneuver, landing - flare/touchdown - object - animal(s) (cause) - maneuver to avoid obstructions - attempted, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7437](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7437), registered now, S/N 18-5455, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-5455 - Airframe hours: 2883 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Genevieve A. Klebba - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 21, 1999, 58 hours before - Departed: 6Z1, ARNESS LAKE, AK - Airport: Kustatan River ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 376 total, 129 in this make and model, 273 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 20000625042579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000625042579A), Jun 25, 2000: Piper PA18, Nikiski, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot stated that during the landing flare on the 900 feet long by 50 feet wide gravel airstrip, 28 miles west-northwest of Nikiski, a bear ran onto… ## Other investigations on N7437 (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ANC68F0019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC68F0019), Apr 23, 1967: Piper PA-18 (N7437), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.