# NTSB ANC02LA048: Piper PA-18, N1888A, Fairbanks, AK, June 13, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 13, 2002, 08:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 64.813613, -147.859725 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8136&lon=-147.8597&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-FAI FSDO 01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 54935 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA048 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54935/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54935 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA048 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in the right wing striking the ground. ## 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, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,main gear strut - buckled - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The solo student pilot was landing the tundra tire-equipped airplane on a paved runway (runway 19L). The student's flight instructor was observing the flight from the ground. The student made a three-point landing, but upon touchdown, the airplane veered to the left as the right wing and right wheel came off the ground. The student applied right aileron, and the airplane slammed down on the right wheel. The right wheel landing gear strut buckled, and the right wing struck the ground. The right wing was bent upward at the right wing lift strut attach point. The student had accrued 46 total hours. At the time of the accident, the wind conditions at the airport were 120 degrees (true) at 4 knots. ## Factual narrative On June 13, 2002, about 0815 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N1888A, sustained substantial damage when the right wing struck the ground during the landing roll at the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area instructional flight when the accident occurred. The solo student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Fairbanks airport about 0800. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 13, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), reported that the student was landing on runway 19L. The student's flight instructor was observing the flight from the ground. The inspector said the student made a three-point landing, but upon touchdown, the airplane veered to the left as the right wing and right wheel came off the ground. The student applied right aileron, and the airplane slammed down on the right wheel. The right wheel landing gear strut buckled, and the right wing struck the ground. The right wing was bent upward at the right wing lift strut attach point. The inspector reported that during his conversation with the student, the student pilot said a five knot crosswind from the east was present during the landing. The student had accrued 46 total flight hours. At 0753, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at Fairbanks was reporting, in part: Wind, 120 degrees (true) at 4 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, few at 6,000 feet, 8,000 feet broken, 12,000 feet overcast; temperature, 52 degrees F; dew point, 48 degrees F; altimeter, 30.28 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1888A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1888A), registered now, S/N 18-1718, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-125](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-125) (registry code 7101812) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-1718 - Airframe hours: 6355 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Uriah Strong - Registered owner: Charles L. Gray - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 10, 2001, 58 hours before - Departed: PAFA, FAIRBANKS, AK - Airport: PAFA, Fairbanks International, runway 19L, 2,640 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 25; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 46 total, 36 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 74; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 11, 2002; flight hours: 8,885 total, 4,200 in this make and model, 8,750 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 94° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: PAFA ## 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 20020613011529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020613011529A), Jun 13, 2002: Piper PA18125, Fairbanks, AK, No damage. (.19) On June 13, 2002, about 0815 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N1888A, sustained substantial damage during landing at… ## Other investigations on N1888A (1) 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 ANC26LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA046), May 31, 2026: Piper PA-18-125 (N1888A), South Van Horn, AK, substantial damage, investigation ongoing ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 6, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54935. 591 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 591 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445362&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, 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.