# NTSB ANC02LA067: Piper PA-18, N1129A, Talkeetna, AK, July 2, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 2, 2002, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.366111, -149.626388 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.3661&lon=-149.6264&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 55121 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA067 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55121/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55121 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA067 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate weather evaluation, which resulted in a turbulence encounter and subsequent collision with a river embankment during maneuvering flight. A contributing factor was the presence of terrain induced turbulence. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering - weather condition - turbulence,terrain induced (contributing factor) - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment ## Analysis The private certificated pilot was searching for a lost hiker along a river drainage in a float-equipped airplane. The pilot said he was maneuvering between 500 to 1,000 feet above the ground and had encountered turbulence that was being produced in the canyons along the river. Just before the accident, the pilot said a strong gust of wind yawed the airplane sideways, and lifted the left wing. The airplane descended toward the ground. The pilot leveled the airplane just before the float assembly collided with alder bushes along the bank of the river. The airplane then did a cartwheel and came to rest facing opposite the initial direction of travel. The airplane received damage to the float assembly, fuselage, and wings. ## Factual narrative On July 2, 2002, about 1400 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N1129A, sustained substantial damage when it collided with an embankment after encountering turbulence while maneuvering along a river, about 15 miles northeast of Talkeetna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR,) local-area personal flight, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from Talkeetna about 1215. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on July 2, the pilot reported that he departed Christensen Lake, Talkeetna, and was searching for a lost hiker along the Sheep River, east of Talkeetna. The pilot said he was flying between 500 to 1,000 feet above the ground, and was returning to Talkeetna. During the flight, the pilot said he encountered moderate turbulence that was being produced in the canyons along the river. Just before the accident, the pilot said a strong gust of wind yawed the airplane sideways, and lifted the left wing. The airplane descended toward the ground. The pilot leveled the airplane just before the float assembly collided with alder bushes along the bank of the river. The airplane then did a cartwheel and came to rest facing opposite the initial direction of travel. The airplane received damage to the float assembly, fuselage, and wings. At 1353, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at Talkeetna was reporting in part: Wind, 200 degrees (true) at 10 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 2,300 feet broken, 2,800 feet overcast; temperature, 61 degrees F; dew point, 48 degrees F; altimeter, 30.03 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1129A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1129A), registered now, S/N 18-722, built 1951 (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 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-722 - Airframe hours: 3391 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2A 150 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William J. Fitzgerald - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, March 5, 2002, 76 hours before - Departed: TALKEETNA, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 19, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 1,750 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 176° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,300 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: PATK, 15 nm away ## 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 20020702016729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020702016729A), Jul 2, 2002: Piper PA18125, Talkeetna, AK, No damage. (-23) On July 2, 2002, a float equipped Piper PA-18-125, aircraft N1129A, registered to and piloted by william j. fitzgerald was involved in an aircraft near… ## Other investigations on N1129A (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 ANC11CA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA029), May 6, 2011: Piper PA-18-125 (N1129A), Cordova, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of aircraft control during final approach in gusty wind conditions, resulting in a hard landing. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 9, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55121. 748 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 748 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460426&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.