# NTSB ANC03LA050: Piper PA-18-160, N814JM, Kenai, AK, May 17, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 16, 2003, 18:00 local (May 17, 2003, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Kenai, AK - Coordinates: 60.583332, -151.216659 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.5833&lon=-151.2167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Anchorage FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 57032 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA050 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57032/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA050 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to compensate for gusting wind conditions during the landing flare, which resulted in the airplane encountering brush, and nosing over. Factors contributing to the accident were high brush, and gusting winds. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot said he was landing at his private airstrip, and the wind drifted the airplane to the right of the landing tracks. He said the brush to the side of the tracks had not been cut, and was higher than normal. He said when the airplane encountered the brush during the landing roll, it nosed over. The pilot said the airplane sustained damage to one wing, the lift struts, rudder, landing gear, and fuselage. He said the wind may have been gusting to as high as 20 knots. ## Factual narrative On May 16, 2003, about 1800 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18-160 airplane, N814JM, sustained substantial damage after an on-ground encounter with terrain during the landing roll, about 5 miles northeast of Kenai, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91 at the time of the accident. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed the Port Alsworth Airport, Port Alsworth, Alaska, about 1630. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on May 20, the pilot said he was landing at his private airstrip, and the wind drifted the airplane to the right of the landing tracks. He said the brush to the side of the tracks had not been cut, and was higher than normal. He said when the airplane encountered the brush during the landing roll, it nosed over. The pilot said the airplane sustained damage to one wing, the lift struts, rudder, landing gear, and fuselage. He said the wind may have been gusting to as high as 20 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N814JM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N814JM), registered now, S/N 18-8608, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-160 - 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: 18-8608 - Airframe hours: 6033 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John Davis - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 15, 2002, 136 hours before - Departed: AK51, Port Alsworth, AK - Destination: Kenai, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 2, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 7,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 20 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20030516012339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030516012339A), May 16, 2003: Piper PA18150, Kenai, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated he was landing at a small Private strip near his home. He said the right wheel hit a soft spot on the edge of the narrow runway and went… ## Other investigations on N814JM (1) 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 ANC95LA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA131), Aug 6, 1995: Piper PA-18-160 (N814JM), Port Alsworth, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: AN IN-FLIGHT SEPARATION OF A PROPELLER BLADE, WHICH RESULTED IN A SEVERE VIBRATION, SHUTDOWN OF THE ENGINE, AND A FORCED LANDING IN ALDER BUSHES. 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.