# NTSB ANC02LA085: Piper PA-18, N8995D, Port Alsworth, AK, July 29, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 28, 2002, 20:00 local (Jul 29, 2002, 04:00 UTC) - Place: Port Alsworth, AK - Coordinates: 60.2, -154.166671 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.2000&lon=-154.1667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55402 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA085 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55402/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55402 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA085 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during the landing roll, resulting in a nose over. A factor associated with the accident was a wind gust. ## 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 - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The solo airline transport pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane on a mountain ridge top. During the landing roll, a gust of wind lifted the tail, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the rudder, and both wing lift struts. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On July 28, 2002, about 2000 Alaska daylight time, a tundra-tire, tailwheel-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N8995D, sustained substantial damage when the airplane nosed over during landing at an off-airport site, about 10 miles west of Port Alsworth, Alaska. The solo airline transport pilot was not injured. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated about 1945, from a private airstrip located in Port Alsworth. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on July 29, the pilot reported that he was landing to the northwest on a mountain ridge top. The pilot said that during the landing roll, a gust of wind lifted the tail, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the rudder, and both wing lift struts. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8995D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8995D), registered now, S/N 18-6403, built 1958 (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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 186403 - Airframe hours: 3023.9 - Engines: Lycoming O-320B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William F. Graham - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 27, 2002, 100 hours before - Departed: Port Alsworth, AK - Destination: Port Alsworth, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 28, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 6,200 total, 250 in this make and model, 6,000 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - 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 20020728027029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020728027029A), Jul 28, 2002: Piper PA18A, Portalsworth, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot landed on a ridge top and on landing roll wind picked up tail of the aircraft causing the aircraft to nose over causing substantial damage to the… ## Other investigations on N8995D (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 ANC96LA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA116), Aug 4, 1996: Piper PA-18 (N8995D), Tyonek, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper approach to landing, and his delay in initiating a go-around. - [NTSB MKC67F0011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC67F0011), Jun 21, 1966: Piper PA-18A (N8995D), Elgin, ND, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 16, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55402. 763 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 763 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464626&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.