# NTSB ANC03LA041: Piper PA-18, N339T, Cantwell, AK, April 14, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 13, 2003, 18:30 local (Apr 14, 2003, 02:30 UTC) - Place: Cantwell, AK - Coordinates: 63.316665, -149.116668 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.3167&lon=-149.1167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 26, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56806 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA041 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56806/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA041 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area in deep snow, which resulted in the nose over of the airplane on touchdown. A factor associated with the accident was a snow-covered airstrip. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - freezing rain - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - weather condition - low ceiling - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The solo private pilot was flying through an area of mountainous terrain when he encountered low ceilings, reduced visibility, and light freezing rain. He said that he noticed a light accumulation of rime ice on the leading edge of the airplane's wing, so he elected to land at a remote, unmaintained airstrip, and wait for better weather. The pilot reported that while landing, the main wheels contacted deep snow on the runway, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, both wing lift struts, and rudder assembly. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On April 13, 2003, about 1830 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N339T, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during a precautionary landing at the Summit Airstrip, located about 6 miles southwest of Cantwell, 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 private pilot was not injured. The flight originated about 1730 from the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska, and was en route to Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on April 14, the pilot reported that as the flight progressed through an area of mountainous terrain, he encountered low ceilings, reduced visibility, and light freezing rain. He said that he noticed a light accumulation of rime ice on the leading edge of the airplane's wing, so he elected to land at the Summit Airstrip and wait for better weather. He said that while landing on runway 21, the main wheels contacted deep snow on the runway, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, both wing lift struts, and rudder assembly. According to the current Alaska Supplement, the Summit Airstrip is not maintained. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N339T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N339T), registered now, S/N 18-2453, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18 105](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-105) (registry code 7101809) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-2453 - Airframe hours: 5149.5 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ingo, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 9, 2002, 31.1 hours before - Departed: FAI, Fairbanks, AK - Destination: MRI, Anchorage, AK - Airport: UMM, Summit, runway 21, 3,840 × 80 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private, foreign; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 4, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 1,082 total, 920 in this make and model, 939 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 32 °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 20030413004769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030413004769A), Apr 13, 2003: Piper PA18105, Cantwell, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) According to the pilot, he entered freezing drizzle and low ceiling. He made a precautionary landing at summit airport. The aircraft contacted soft snow… ## Other investigations on N339T (4) 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 ANC97LA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA118), Aug 9, 1997: Piper PA-18 (N339T), Circle, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inadequate visual lookout by the pilot, and his selection of a landing area with high vegetation in the landing path. Factors which contributed to the accident were fatigue and the high… - [NTSB ANC95LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA128), Aug 4, 1995: Piper PA-18 (N339T), Circle, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S PREMATURE LIFTOFF DURING TAKEOFF. - [NTSB ANC89LA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA166), Sep 11, 1989: Piper PA-18 (N339T), Circle City, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL DURING THE LANDING ROLL. - [NTSB CHI66F0076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI66F0076), Jun 19, 1965: Piper PA-18 (N339T), Warsaw, IN, 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.