# NTSB ANC03LA017: Piper PA-18-150, N7002Z, Chenega Bay, AK, December 1, 2002

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 1, 2002, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Chenega Bay, AK
- Coordinates: 60.150226, -164.250579 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.1502&lon=-164.2506&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: Anchorage FSDO-03
- NTSB case key (mKey): 56185
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA017
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56185/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA017

## Probable cause

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance which resulted in the airplane colliding with a tree and a berm.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - tree(s)
  - terrain condition - berm
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot said the airplane was parked on a remote beach on an Island.  He noticed an approaching storm, and decided to reposition the airplane on a logging road away from the beach.  During the landing roll on the logging road, the right wing struck a tree, and as the airplane turned sharply to the right, the left main landing gear struck a berm and collapsed, allowing the left wing to impact the ground.  The airplane sustained damage to both wings, the left landing gear and propeller.

## Factual narrative

On December 1, 2002, about 1530 Alaska standard time, a Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N7002Z, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a tree during the landing roll on a logging road, about 20 statute miles southeast of Chenega Bay, Alaska.  The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) 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.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on December 9, the pilot said the accident airplane was parked on a beach in San Juan Bay, Montague Island, Alaska, when he noticed an approaching storm.  The pilot said he decided to reposition the airplane on a logging road away from the beach.  During the landing roll on the logging road, the right wing struck a tree, and as the airplane turned sharply to the right, the left main landing gear struck a berm and collapsed, allowing the left wing to impact the ground.  The airplane sustained damage to both wings, the left landing gear, and propeller.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7002Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7002Z), registered now, S/N 18-8180 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-150
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-C2C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-c2c) (registry code 42287, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-1881
- Airframe hours: 2838
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-C2C 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Carroll J. Campbell
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 26, 2002, 14 hours before
- Departed: San Juan Bay, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; private, commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 13, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 4,130 total, 480 in this make and model, 2,080 as pilot in command, 240 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 135° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 45 °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 20021201035129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021201035129A), Dec 1, 2002: Piper PA18150, Chenega, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On December 1, 2002, a PA-18 super cub, N7002Z, piloted by carroll campbell, received substantial damage while landing on a logging road at san juan bay.…

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.

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