# NTSB ANC02TA036: Piper PA-18, N82735, Holy Cross, AK, May 16, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: May 16, 2002, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Holy Cross, AK - Coordinates: 62.133335, -159.300003 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.1333&lon=-159.3000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 6, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 54721 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02TA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54721/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54721 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02TA036 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. A factor in the accident was the presence of high vegetation (willows) along the right side of the landing area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot, a Fish and Wildlife Protection Officer, was landing on the beach area of a lake, adjacent to a remote lodge. The pilot and passenger were concluding a cross-country public use flight to conduct a criminal investigation. During the landing roll, the right wingtip contacted willow bushes, pivoting the airplane to the right. The airplane received damage to the propeller, the tailwheel assembly, the rudder post, and a fuselage longeron. ## Factual narrative On May 16, 2002, about 1500 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N82735, sustained substantial damage during a landing on a beach at Reindeer Lake, about 14 miles east of Holy Cross, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country public use flight, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the State of Alaska, Department of Public Service, Anchorage, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, a Fish and Wildlife Protection Officer, and the passenger, an Alaska State Trooper, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. VFR flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Aniak airport, Aniak, Alaska, about 1430. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on May 16, the supervisor for the State of Alaska's aircraft section reported that the pilot and passenger were en route to Reindeer Lake to conduct a criminal investigation. The pilot was landing on the beach area of the lake, adjacent to a remote lodge. During the landing roll, the right wingtip contacted willow bushes, pivoting the airplane to the right. The airplane received damage to the propeller, the tailwheel assembly, the rudder post, and a fuselage longeron. The pilot indicated that the wind was from 030 degrees at 8 to 10 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N82735](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82735), registered now, S/N 18-7709183, built 1977 (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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-7709183 - Airframe hours: 5889 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Public use - Registered owner: State Of Alaska, Dept. Of Public Safety - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 25, 2002, 60 hours before - Departed: PANI, ANIAK, AK - Destination: REINDEER LAKE, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 4, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 5,285 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 5,250 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 8 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg ## 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 20020516012879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020516012879A), May 16, 2002: Piper PA18150, Holycross, AK, No damage. (-23) Public use aircraft landed on sandbar during criminal investigation mission. Struck willow tree with right wing tip. Wing tip bow and tail wheel attach… ## Other investigations on N82735 (3) 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 WPR22LA288](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA288), Jul 28, 2022: Piper PA-18-150 (N82735), McCarthy, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper decision to takeoff from an unimproved airstrip with a high density altitude which degraded its climb performance and led to a collision with vegetation off the end of the… - [NTSB ANC15FA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15FA009), Jan 31, 2015: Piper PA 18 (N82735), Wasilla, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: Both pilots’ inadequate visual lookout and failure to see and avoid each other while in level cruise flight, which resulted in a midair collision. Contributing to the accident was the obscuration of… - [NTSB ANC95GA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95GA083), Apr 10, 1995: Piper PA-18 (N82735), Copper Center 2, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT NOT USING THE CHECKLIST AND LANDING WITH THE SKIS PUMPED DOWN. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 30, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54721. 462 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 462 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438623&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.