# NTSB ANC02LA092: Piper PA-18-150, N4122E, Tok, AK, August 6, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 6, 2002, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Tok, AK - Coordinates: 63.17955, -143.099121 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.1795&lon=-143.0991&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (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): 55411 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55411/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA092 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain and trees during a low pass to examine a potential landing site. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, maneuvering - terrain condition - high vegetation - terrain condition - sand bar - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, climb - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was making a low pass to examine a sand bar as a potential landing site. He said he intentionally rolled the main wheels on the surface of the sand bar to determine its suitability. As he touched down, the airplane's left wing hit willows alongside the sand bar. He said he initiated a climb, but collided with trees at a slow airspeed about 35 feet above the ground, and the airplane fell to the ground. ## Factual narrative On August 6, 2002, about 1400 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N4122E, sustained substantial damage when the left wing encountered willows during a low pass over a sandbar, about 25 miles south of Tok, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Tok Airstrip, Tok, about 1300. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 6, the pilot said he was making a low pass over a sandbar to check its suitability for landing. He said his intention was to roll the airplane tires over the surface of the sandbar without landing. He said when the main wheels touched down, the left wingtip flew through some willows, which caused the airplane to veer to the left. He said he initiated a climb, and rolled the airplane to the right. He said the airplane entered the trees to the right of the sandbar, about 35 feet above the ground. The airplane exited the stand of trees at a slow airspeed, and impacted the ground. He said there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the flight. The airplane sustained damage to both wing leading edges and spars, and the fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: N4122E (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-150 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-7809074 - Airframe hours: 3636 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-ABA 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Charles R. Rhodes - Registered owner: Charles Rhodes - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 27, 2001, 40 hours before - Departed: PATJ, Tok, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 24, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 7,000 total, 700 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.72 inHg - Observed at: PAOR ## 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 20020806023199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020806023199A), Aug 6, 2002: Piper PA18150, AK, Destroyed. (-23) [privacy data omitted] on August 6, 2002 the pilot of N4122E was overflying a gravel bar checking the suitability for landing. While the pilot was low… 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.