# NTSB ANC01TA049: Piper PA-18, N745, King Salmon, AK, April 21, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: April 21, 2001, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: King Salmon, AK - Coordinates: 58.676944, -156.649169 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.6769&lon=-156.6492&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 52116 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01TA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52116/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01TA049 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and inadequate weather evaluation resulting in a loss of directional control during the landing roll. Factors in the accident were the presence of a quartering tailwind, and an inadvertent ground loop. ## 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 - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was landing on runway 29 at an airport which was an intermediate stop on a cross-country government flight. The wind conditions were reported to the pilot as 070 degrees at 6 knots. After touchdown, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot applied right rudder and right brake pressure, but the airplane continued to the left. The right wingtip and the right aileron struck the gravel-covered ground along the left side of the runway. The wingtip was bent upward slightly, and the trailing edge of the right aileron was buckled upward. The pilot decided the airplane was airworthy, and continued the flight to his final destination. ## Factual narrative On April 21, 2001, about 1400 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N745, sustained substantial damage during landing at the King Salmon Airport, King Salmon, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country government flight, under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Cold Bay Airport, Cold Bay, Alaska, about 1010. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on April 24th, an aviation investigator from the U.S. Department of Interior, Office of Aircraft Services, Boise, Idaho, reported that the pilot was bringing the airplane to Anchorage, Alaska, for maintenance. The investigator said that the pilot was landing on runway 29 at King Salmon, and the wind conditions were reported to the pilot as 070 degrees at 6 knots. After touchdown, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot applied right rudder and right brake pressure, but the airplane continued to the left. The right wingtip and the right aileron struck the gravel-covered ground along the left side of the runway. The wingtip was bent upward slightly, and the trailing edge of the right aileron was buckled upward. The pilot inspected the damage, decided the airplane was airworthy, and continued the flight to Anchorage. At 1352, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at King Salmon was reporting in part: Wind, calm; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 5,000 feet broken, 12,000 feet overcast; temperature, 50 degrees F; dew point, 33 degrees F; altimeter, 29.62 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: N745 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-7709139 - Airframe hours: 4183 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91 - Operator: U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service - Registered owner: Dept. Of Interior, Office Of Aircraft Services - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 18, 2000, 37 hours before - Departed: PACD, COLD BAY, AK - Destination: PANC, ANCHORAGE, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: PAKN, King Salmon, runway 29, 8,500 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 6, 2000; seat: front; flight hours: 2,676 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 2,613 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.62 inHg - Observed at: PAKN ## 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 20010421039979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010421039979A), Apr 21, 2001: Piper PA18150, King Salmon, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Note: this aircraft is owned by the usa, office of aircraft services, dept. Of the interior. Pilot is employed by fish and wildlife service. Accident… 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.