# NTSB ANC02LA071: Piper PA-18, N91855, Dillingham, AK, July 8, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 7, 2002, 17:00 local (Jul 8, 2002, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Dillingham, AK - Coordinates: 60.25, -158.5 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.2500&lon=-158.5000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 29, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Anchorage FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 55178 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55178/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55178 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA071 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable area for taxiing, which resulted in running the airplane's float aground. Factors contributing to the accident were the hidden obstructions underwater, and the excessive taxi speed. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing - terrain condition - water - taxispeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - hidden obstruction(s) (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The float-equipped airplane landed on a river without incident. While taxiing near the left shoreline, the left float ran aground on the river bottom. The airplane turned sharply to the left, the right float collided with the riverbank, and the right wing collided with a tree. The right float was punctured, and the right wing sustained damage to its leading edge, ribs, and spar. ## Factual narrative On July 7, 2002, about 1700 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N91855, sustained substantial damage during a collision with a hidden obstruction while water taxiing after landing on the King Salmon River, about 70 nautical miles northwest of Dillingham, 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 on the Nushagak River, about 20 nautical miles north of the accident location. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on July 9, the pilot said he departed a camp on the Nushagak River en route to a camp on the King Salmon River. He said he landed on the King Salmon River without incident, but during the water taxi he ran the left float in water that was too shallow. When the left float hit the bottom of the river, he said it caused the right float to swing into the riverbank, and the right wing to swing into trees and brush. He said the right float was punctured, and about five feet of the right wing was bent upward. The right wing leading edge, ribs, and spar were damaged. The pilot did not respond to written requests from the NTSB IIC asking him to complete a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1). ## Aircraft - Registration: N91855 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 188009017 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jeff Puente - Registered owner: Jeff Puente - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Nushagak River, AK - Destination: Dillingham, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F ## 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 20020707016869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020707016869A), Jul 7, 2002: Piper PA18150, Dillingham, AK, No damage. (-23) On 7 July 2002, at approximately 17:00 hrs. Jeff charles puenta, private pilot #568353736, crashed super cub, PA-18-150, N91855, during step taxi after… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 6, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55178. 8 KB in all. - No Supporting Documentation. (item 1, .PDF, 8 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40176068&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=No%20Supporting%20Documentation.-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.