- Date
- May 16, 2003, 10:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Aniak, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N9877DPiper PA-18-160
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- Anchorage FSDO-03
- FAA report
- 20030516012419A
- Case key
- 57031
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering, which resulted in the airplane colliding with terrain. A factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's diverted attention.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported he flew low over a spot to check its suitability for landing. While making the low pass, his attention was diverted to adjusting his seatback cushion, and the right tire inadvertently struck the ground. The right main landing gear separated from the airplane, and the airplane impacted the ground.
Factual narrative
On May 16, 2003, about 1000 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18-160 airplane, N9877D, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain while maneuvering at a low altitude, about 50 miles south of Aniak, 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 commercial 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 May 20, the pilot said he had taken off from an unimproved landing strip. He said his attention was diverted while adjusting his seatback cushion, and the airplane collided with the terrain. He said both wings, landing gear, and the fuselage were damaged during the collision with terrain.
In a written statement received by the NTSB on May 28, the pilot reported he flew low over a spot to check its suitability for landing. While making the low pass he was attempting to adjust his seatback cushion, and the right tire struck the ground. The right main landing gear separated from the airplane, and the airplane impacted the ground.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9877D
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18-160
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 186899
- Airframe hours
- 10,550
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320A2B, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Robert L. Adams
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 8, 2003 · 37 hours before
- Departed
- Aniak, AK
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 47
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 1, 2002
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 6,900 total · 5,500 in this make and model · 9,600 as pilot in command · 134 in the last 90 days · 91 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- 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.
Other investigations on N9877D · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.