# NTSB ANC02LA055: Piper PA-18, N1858A, Anchorage, AK, June 19, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 18, 2002, 17:27 local (Jun 19, 2002, 01:27 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.186943, -149.798614 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1869&lon=-149.7986&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 16, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Anchorage FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 55035 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55035/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55035 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA055 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. A factor associated with the accident is a ditch adjacent to the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - aborted - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) - Nose down, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot of the accident airplane reported making a hard landing and bounced the airplane on the runway. He said he applied full power in an attempt to abort the landing, but the airplane bounced a second time, and exited the runway to the left where it encountered a ditch and nosed down. The left wing sustained substantial damage during the accident. ## Factual narrative On June 18, 2002, about 1727 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N1858A, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control during an aborted landing at the Lake Hood Strip, 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 solo private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated near Cash Creek, in the Trading Bay area, about 1300, and was bound for Lake Hood Strip. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on June 21, the pilot said he landed hard and bounced. He said he applied full power in an attempt to abort the landing, but was not fast enough with the throttle. After a second bounce the airplane exited the left side of the runway. Once off the runway, the airplane encountered a ditch, abruptly stopped, and came to rest on its nose, left main landing gear, and left wing. The pilot said the airplane sustained damage to its left wing leading edge, ribs, and tip bow, along with damage to the propeller. During a telephone conversation with the IIC on June 21, the pilot's mechanic said at least two of the left wing ribs will have to be spliced, and a section of the leading edge and tip bow replaced. The pilot did not submit a NTSB Form 6120.1, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1858A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1858A), registered now, S/N 18-1686, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18A](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a) (registry code 7101804) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-1686 - Engines: Continental C-90 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Harold L. Soule - Registered owner: Harold L. Soule - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Trading Bay, AK - Destination: Z41, Anchorage, AK - Airport: Z41, Lake Hood Strip, runway 31, 2,200 × 70 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 1, 2001; seat: front ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: PALH ## 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 20020618016739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020618016739A), Jun 18, 2002: Piper PA18A, Anchorage, AK, No damage. (-23) Airman was attempting to land on lake Hood gravel strip. The aircraft bounced twice on landing and went off the left side of the runway. ## Other investigations on N1858A (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 ANC11CA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA053), Jun 15, 2011: Piper PA-18A (N1858A), McCarthy, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while taxiing in gusty wind conditions. - [NTSB ANC06CA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06CA128), Sep 1, 2006: Piper PA-18 (N1858A), Aniak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during the takeoff initial climb, which resulted in a loss of control and in-flight collision with terrain. A factor contributing to the… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 11, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55035. 8 KB in all. - No Supporting Documentation for ANC02LA055 (item 1, .PDF, 8 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40168920&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=No%20Supporting%20Documentation%20for%20ANC02LA055-Master.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.