# NTSB ANC00LA118: Piper PA-18, N82905, Sparrevohn, AK, September 11, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 10, 2000, 21:00 local (Sep 11, 2000, 05:00 UTC) - Place: Sparrevohn, AK - Location: 61.1031° N, 155.5775° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sparrevohn Long Range Radar Site, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1031&lon=-155.5775&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 50283 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA118 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50283/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA118 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent stall/mush during the final approach to land. Factors associated with the accident are the pilot's misjudged flare, and the rough and uneven terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Hard landing, descent - uncontrolled - Nose over, landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane on a remote off-airport landing site. While on short final for the intended landing site, the pilot said the airplane had a sudden loss of lift. The airplane subsequently touched down hard, on rough uneven terrain, and nosed over. The pilot reported that he had not experienced any mechanical difficulties or failures with the airplane that may have contributed to the accident. ## Factual narrative On September 11, 2000, about 2000 Alaska daylight time, a tundra-tire-equipped Piper PA-18, N82905, sustained substantial damage while landing at a remote, off-airport landing site, 15 miles south-southwest of Sleetmute, Alaska, at 61 degrees, 26 minutes north latitude, 157 degrees, 20 minutes west longitude. The airplane is registered to and operated by Alaskan Adventures, of Rocklin, California, and was being operated under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, in support of a hunting-guide service. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was activated. The flight originated from another remote site about 1945. During a telephone interview with an NTSB investigator on January 22, 2001, the pilot reported that while on short final for the intended landing site, at an altitude of approximately 10-15 feet above ground level, the airplane had a sudden loss of lift. The airplane subsequently bounced, landed hard in a nose low attitude, and nosed over. The pilot stated that the airplane touched down on uneven sloping terrain, 15 to 25 feet right of his intended touchdown point. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical difficulties or failures with the airplane that may of contributed to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N82905](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82905), registered now, S/N 18-7709197, built 1977 (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 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: Unknown - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Rocky Mcelveen, doing business as Alaskan Adventures ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; medical: unknown, unknown ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Not reported - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast - 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 20000910042619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000910042619A), Sep 10, 2000: Piper PA18150, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot was enroute from Alaska to Texas. The statement should be coming soon. This report will be amended when pilot's statement arrives. ## Other investigations on N82905 (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 ANC06CA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06CA133), Sep 18, 2006: Piper PA-18 (N82905), Koliganek, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from rising terrain while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain. Factors associated with the… - [NTSB ANC99LA121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA121), Aug 20, 1999: Piper PA-18 (N82905), Sleetmute, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area, which resulted in the airplane colliding with vegetation, knocking the gascolator off the airplane, and fuel starvation of the engine. - [NTSB ANC98LA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA160), Sep 25, 1998: Piper PA-18 (N82905), New Stuyahok, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's excessive use of brakes during the landing roll. 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.