# NTSB ANC00LA114: Piper PA-18, N3774Z, Ruby, AK, September 5, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 4, 2000, 21:00 local (Sep 5, 2000, 05:00 UTC) - Place: Ruby, AK - Coordinates: 65.029998, -154.910522 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.0300&lon=-154.9105&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 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 50988 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50988/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA114 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent ground loop/swerve during the landing roll. ## 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 (cause) ## Analysis The pilot said he made a wheel landing on an off-airport gravel bar, and during rollout, the airplane's nose swerved to the right. He said when he applied the booster brakes, the nose continued to the right, and the airplane ground looped. The pilot wrote in his report to the NTSB that he didn't know if there was a mechanical problem with the airplane, but that the right brake 'may' have locked up. According to the airplane owner, the pilot was landing on a 1,500 feet long by 100 feet wide gravel bar, and attempted to stop the airplane quickly to make a short turnoff. The winds were calm at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, and the empennage. ## Factual narrative On September 4, 2000, about 2100 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18 tundra tire equipped airplane, N3774Z, sustained substantial damage when it ground looped during landing on an off airport gravel bar on the Malozitna River, Alaska, at 65 degrees, 27.06 minutes north latitude, 154 degrees, 29.06 minutes west longitude, about 60 miles north of Ruby, Alaska. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, as a hunter guide business flight. The weather at the time of the accident was clear, with calm winds, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, and the empennage. According to the pilot, he performed a wheel landing, and the airplane's nose swerved to the right. He said when he applied the booster brakes, the nose continued to the right, and the airplane ground looped. The pilot stated he believed the right brake locked up. According to the airplane owner, the pilot was landing on a 1,500 feet long by 100 feet wide gravel bar, and attempted to stop the airplane quickly to make a short turnoff. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3774Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3774Z), registered now, S/N 18-7454 (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: 18-07454 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Gary S. Munoz - Registered owner: Kurt Lepping - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 884 total, 573 in this make and model, 820 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °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 20000904009009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000904009009A), Sep 4, 2000: Piper PA18150, Tanana, AK, No damage. (-23) Landing on a sandbar pilot lost control, ground looped aircraft damaged left outboard wing, rear spar and left elevator. ## Other investigations on N3774Z (3) 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 ANC10CA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10CA037), May 6, 2010: Piper PA-18-150 (N3774Z), Port Moller, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of the left rudder cable retaining bolt during base to final turn, resulting in a loss of control and impact with terrain. - [NTSB ANC95LA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA098), Jul 5, 1995: Piper PA-18-160 (N3774Z), Palmer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, DURING AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING ON ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE. THE TERRAIN CONDITION WAS A RELATED FACTOR. - [NTSB ANC68D0091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC68D0091), Dec 19, 1967: Piper PA-18 (N3774Z), Anchorage, 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.