# NTSB ANC02LA027: Piper PA-18, N5408Y, Chickaloon, AK, March 28, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 28, 2002, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Chickaloon, AK - Coordinates: 61.936943, -147.168884 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.9369&lon=-147.1689&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 26, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Anchorage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54454 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA027 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54454/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54454 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA027 ## Probable cause The inadequate supervision of the student pilot by the instructor. Factors associated with the accident are the snow-covered runway and the loss of directional control by the student pilot. ## Analysis During a student training flight, the instructor and student overflew the accident airport, looking for a suitable landing area. The runway was snow-covered in some areas, and plowed in others. Snow berms of varying heights were present adjacent to the runway, and there were patches of ice on the runway. After a smooth landing the student lost directional control on an icy portion of the runway. The instructor took control but was unable to arrest the skid and the airplane's left wing struck the windsock pole. After the impact with the pole, the airplane spun to the left, and the right elevator struck a snow berm. ## Factual narrative On March 28, 2002, about 1500 Alaska standard time, a wheel-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N5408Y, sustained substantial damage during the landing roll at the Skelton Airstrip, about 35 miles northeast of Chickaloon, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the student pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) instructional flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The student pilot and the certificated flight instructor were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Palmer Municipal Airport, Palmer, Alaska, about 1100. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on April 1, the flight instructor said when she and the student flew over the Skelton airstrip, they discussed suitable landing sites. The runway had varying degrees of snow coverage, some areas appeared to have been plowed, and other areas had high snow berms. After discussing what they thought would be a suitable landing site, the student started the approach, landing to the west. The student landed the airplane on a section of the runway different from the section the instructor had expected, and the airplane skidded on the ice. The flight instructor took control of the airplane, but she was not able to control the skid. The left wing of the airplane struck the windsock pole. She said the student told her where he landed was where he thought they had agreed upon. During a telephone conversation with the IIC on April 1, the student pilot's mechanic said both wing spars, and the tail of the airplane were damaged in the accident. ## 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 - directional control - not maintained, dual student (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - pole ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5408Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5408Y), registered now, S/N 18-8171, built 1964 (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 O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-8171 - Airframe hours: 3858 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Charles S. Lee - Registered owner: Charles S. Lee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 4, 2002, 4 hours before - Departed: PAAQ, Palmer Muni, AK - Destination: PAZK, Skelton, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: PAZK, Eureka Skelton, runway 21, 2,400 × 60 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 50; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 20, 2002; seat: rear; flight hours: 9,600 total, 350 in this make and model, 9,300 as pilot in command, 115 in the last 90 days, 58 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 44; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 69 total, 63 in this make and model, 30 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 10 °F ## Other investigations on N5408Y (7) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB GAA19CA564](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA564), Sep 23, 2019: Piper PA18 (N5408Y), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to depart from an off-airport surface covered with standing water, which resulted in a noseover. - [NTSB GAA16CA440](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA440), Aug 19, 2016: Piper PA 18-150 (N5408Y), Palmer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's excessive brake application during the landing roll resulting in a nose over. - [NTSB ANC08LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA075), Jun 22, 2008: Piper PA-18 (N5408Y), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll and liftoff, which resulted in a collision with trees and the ground. - [NTSB ANC05CA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA084), Jun 11, 2005: Piper PA-18 (N5408Y), Pamler, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to obtain/maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff-initial climb, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees. Factors associated with the accident are a tailwind… - [NTSB ANC84LA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84LA102), Jun 24, 1984: Piper PA-18-180 (N5408Y), Bear Creek, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC74DAG66](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC74DAG66), Oct 1, 1973: Piper PA-18 (N5408Y), Nondalton, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC68F0023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC68F0023), Mar 6, 1967: Piper PA-18 (N5408Y), Mcgrath, AK, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 24, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54454. 544 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 544 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394845&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- From OpenAirDocs.org, an independent open copy of NTSB and FAA data. The NTSB's own report is the official record of an investigation.