# NTSB ANC01LA114: Piper PA-18-160, N3685Z, Anchorage, AK, August 16, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 16, 2001, 10:05 local (18:05 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.2, -149.833328 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2000&lon=-149.8333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 53074 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53074/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA114 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent ground loop 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 certificated commerical pilot was landing a tailwheel, tundra tire-equipped airplane on a dry, paved runway. During the landing roll, the airplane veered slightly to the left. The pilot added right rudder to correct the veer, but this action had no effect. The airplane ultimately ground looped to the left, and both main landing gear collapsed. The right wing struck the surface of the runway, and sustained substantial damage. . ## Factual narrative On August 16, 2001, about 1005 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18-160 airplane, N3685Z, sustained substantial damage while landing on a dry, paved runway at the Merrill Field Airport, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The certificated private pilot, and the one passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated about 0930, from the pilot's residence at Wasilla, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on August 21, the pilot reported that he was landing on runway 24. The pilot stated that during the landing roll, the airplane veered slightly to the left. He said that he added right rudder to correct the veer, but this action had no effect. The airplane ultimately ground looped to the left, and both main landing gear collapsed. The right wing struck the surface of the runway, and sustained substantial damage. Merrill Field weather observation at the time of the accident was: Wind, calm; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 1,000 feet scattered, 1,400 feet broken, 2,200 feet overcast; temperature, 59 degrees F; dew point, 53 degrees F; altimeter, 29.97 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3685Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3685Z), registered now, S/N 18-7417, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-160 - 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: 18-7417 - Airframe hours: 8285 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Steven A. Grand - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 6, 2001, 51 hours before - Departed: WAS, Wasilla, AK - Destination: MRI, Anchorage, AK - Airport: MRI, Merrill Field, runway 24, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 1, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 2,854 total, 60 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,400 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: MRI ## 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 20010816039759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010816039759A), Aug 16, 2001: Piper PA18150, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) During landing, the aircraft veered right and the pilot was unable to correct and subsequently the right main gear collapsed forcing the aircraft off to… ## Other investigations on N3685Z (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 ANC04CA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04CA116), Sep 28, 2004: Piper PA-18-180 (N3685Z), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area, which resulted in a nose over. A factor associated with the accident was tundra. - [NTSB ANC97TA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97TA095), Jun 27, 1997: Piper PA-18-180 (N3685Z), Tok, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The second pilot/dual student's failure to maintain a proper glidepath, and the pilot-in-command/flight instructor's inadequate supervision. A factor associated with the accident was a downdraft. 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.