# NTSB ANC02LA087: Piper PA-18, N4948, Chugiak, AK, August 1, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 31, 2002, 16:00 local (Aug 1, 2002, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Chugiak, AK - Coordinates: 61.400001, -149.5 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4000&lon=-149.5000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 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): 55405 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55405/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55405 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA087 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control during an aborted landing, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a culvert. 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 - flare/touchdown - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, landing - aborted - object - other ## Analysis The certificated airline transport pilot reported that while on approach for landing on runway 19L, he encountered what he characterized as light and variable winds estimated to be from the south, at 5 knots. He said that just after touchdown, a sudden gust of wind pushed the tail of the airplane to the left, and the airplane veered to the right. The pilot said that he applied full engine power in an attempt to abort the landing. The airplane became airborne, and while in ground effect, the airplane drifted to the right side of the runway. The right main landing gear subsequently struck a culvert on the right side of the runway. The airplane pivoted to the right, and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On July 31, 2002, about 1600 Alaska daylight time, a tundra-tire equipped PA-18 airplane, N4948, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a culvert during an aborted landing at the Birchwood Airport, Chugiak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The certificated airline transport pilot, and the one passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated about 1500, from the Merrill Field Airport, Anchorage, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on August 1, the pilot reported that while on approach for landing on runway 19L, he encountered what he characterized as light and variable winds estimated to be from the south, at 5 knots. He said that just after touchdown, a sudden gust of wind pushed the tail of the airplane to the left, and the airplane veered to the right. The pilot said that he applied full engine power in an attempt to abort the landing. The airplane became airborne, and while in ground effect, the airplane drifted to the right side of the runway. The right main landing gear struck a culvert on the right side of the runway. The airplane pivoted to the right, and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident anomalies with the airplane. The pilot did not submit an NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120. 1). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4948](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4948), registered now, S/N 18-8745, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-8745 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Brett E. Anderson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MRL, Anchorage, AK - Destination: BCV, Chugiak, AK - Airport: PABV, Birchwood, runway 19L, 2,200 × 50 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 8,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles ## 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 20020731018339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020731018339A), Jul 31, 2002: Piper PA18150, Birchwood, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) According to the pilot, after touchdown, he lost directional control, and the aircraft went off the right side of the runway. ## 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=55405. 8 KB in all. - No Supporting Documentation for ANC02LA087 (item 1, .PDF, 8 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40180701&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=No%20Supporting%20Documentation%20for%20ANC02LA087-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.