# NTSB ANC03CA090: Piper PA-18, N9668P, Seward, AK, August 7, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 6, 2003, 16:30 local (Aug 7, 2003, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Seward, AK - Coordinates: 60.016666, -148.508331 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.0167&lon=-148.5083&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): 57662 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03CA090 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57662/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03CA090 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent water loop/swerve during landing roll, which resulted in the airplane nosing over. ## 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 - terrain condition - water - water loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The solo airline transport certificated pilot was landing a float-equipped airplane in a remote, freshwater bay. The pilot reported that during the landing roll, he added a slight amount of left rudder to straighten the airplane's track on the water. The airplane subsequently cart-wheeled to the left, nosed over, and sank in shallow water. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On August 6, 2003, about 1630 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N9668P, sustained substantial damage when it cart-wheeled and nosed over during landing in a freshwater bay located on Montague Island, about 60 miles east of Seward, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo airline transport certificated pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Eyak Lake Airport, Cordova, Alaska, about 1445, and a VFR flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 7, the pilot reported that he was landing in Patton Bay, located on the east side of Montague Island. He said he landed to the west, and during the landing roll, he added a slight amount of left rudder to straighten the airplane's track on the water. The airplane subsequently cart-wheeled to the left, nosed over, and sank in shallow water. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. According to the pilot there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9668P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9668P-2005-12-02), registration cancelled 2005-12-02, S/N 18-7509007, built 1975 (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: 18-7509-007 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 160 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Super Cub Partners, LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CVD, Cordova, AK - Destination: SWD, Seward, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 8,500 total, 50 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20030806037409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030806037409A), Aug 6, 2003: Piper PA18150, Seward, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft was found flipped over in a lake on montague island, which is located in prince william sound, north gulf coast of Alaska. The pilot was found… 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.