# NTSB ANC01LA101: Piper PA-18, N6966D, Homer, AK, June 16, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 16, 2001, 08:55 local (16:55 UTC)
- Place: Homer, AK
- Coordinates: 59.645557, -151.476669
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.6456&lon=-151.4767&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 20, 2002
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03
- NTSB case key (mKey): 52968
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA101
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52968/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA101

## Probable cause

The student pilot's inadvertent ground loop.  A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of total experience.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, dual student (cause)
  - lack of total experience, dual student (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The pilot, holder of a student pilot certificate, was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane at the conclusion of a local area flight.  He said he landed hard, the airplane bounced, and then ground looped to the left.  The right main landing gear wheel rim was broken, and the right wingtip scraped the ground.  The pilot said his total accrued flight time was about 55 hours, and he was uncertain if the airplane sustained any damage to the wing structure.  One month later, an airplane mechanic notified the NTSB IIC, and reported that the right wing received damage to the wing spar.

## Factual narrative

On June 16, 2001, about 0855 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18 airplane, N6966D, sustained substantial damage while landing at the Homer Airport, Homer, Alaska.  The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area instructional flight when the accident occurred.  The airplane was registered to, and operated by, the pilot.  The pilot, holder of a student pilot certificate, was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  The flight originated at the Homer Airport, about 0830.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 18th, at 0940, the pilot reported he was landing on runway 21 at Homer.  He said he landed hard, the airplane bounced, and then ground looped to the left.  The right main landing gear wheel rim was broken, and the right wingtip scraped the ground.  The pilot said his total accrued flight time was about 55 hours, and he was uncertain if the airplane sustained any damage to the wing structure.

On August 8, 2001, an airplane mechanic from Homer telephoned the NTSB IIC and reported that he inspected the airplane.  He said the right wing received damage to the wing spar.

At 0853, June 16, 2001, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at Homer was reporting in part:  Wind, calm; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, clear; temperature, 54 degrees F; dew point, 45 degrees F; altimeter, 30.23 inHg.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6966D (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-18
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-5547
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Roger C. Warren
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 12, 2001, 2 hours before
- Departed: PAHO, HOMER, AK
- Airport: PAHO, Homer, runway 21, 6,701 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 58; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 55 total, 50 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observed at: PAHO

## 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 20010616039929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010616039929A), Jun 16, 2001: Piper PA18A150, Homer, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On 06/16/2001 the pilot in command ground looped aircraft while making a high speed taxi back to the departure end of the runway at the Homer, Alaska…

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.

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