# NTSB ANC03CA077: Piper PA-18, N83272, Talkeetna, AK, July 12, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 12, 2003, 10:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 61.756942, -150.05278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7569&lon=-150.0528&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 57484 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03CA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57484/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03CA077 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area, which resulted in an on ground encounter with soft terrain and subsequent nose over of the airplane. A factor associated with the accident was soft terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis The solo private pilot was landing a tundra tire-equipped airplane on a 500-foot long, off airport site. During the landing roll, the main landing gear wheels encountered soft terrain, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder, wings, and left wing lift strut. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On July 12, 2003, about 1045 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N83272, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during the landing roll at a remote off airport site located about 26 miles south of Talkeetna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot 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. The flight departed from a remote airstrip at Shulin Lake, located near Talkeetna, about 1000. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. According to the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, he was en route to Wasilla, Alaska, when he noticed a pair of moose antlers located near a dry river bed, and he elected to land and pick them up. During the landing roll on the 500-foot long site, the main landing gear wheels encountered soft terrain, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder, wings, and left wing lift strut. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N83272](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N83272), registered now, S/N 18-7609063, built 1976 (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: 18-7609063 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James D. Bowker - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: WAS, Wasilla, AK - Destination: PATK, Talkeetna, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review February 1, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 400 total, 0 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Temperature: 64 °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 20030712037339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030712037339A), Jul 12, 2003: Piper PA18150, Wasilla, AK, Minor damage. (-23) On 12 July, 2003 Piper PA-18, N83272 departed Wasilla AK on a pleasure flight and landed at schullin lake strip then departed for a suitable landing area… ## Other investigations on N83272 (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 ANC02LA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA094), Aug 11, 2002: Piper PA-18 (N83272), Copper Center, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, resulting in a nose-over during the landing roll. A factor contributing to the accident was rough/uneven terrain. - [NTSB SEA78FYK08](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA78FYK08), Feb 7, 1978: Piper PA-18 (N83272), Ashland, OR, destroyed - [NTSB LAXM7DUM29](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAXM7DUM29), May 31, 1977: Piper PA-18 (N83272), San Pasqual, CA, substantial damage 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.