# NTSB ANC03LA092: Piper PA-18, N4320Z, Healy, AK, August 8, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 7, 2003, 20:25 local (Aug 8, 2003, 04:25 UTC) - Place: Healy, AK - Coordinates: 63.853332, -147.52777 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.8533&lon=-147.5278&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-FAI FSDO 01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 57673 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57673/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA092 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain aircraft control after encountering wind gusts during the landing flare/touchdown which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees and subsequent nose over. A factor contributing to the accident was the presence of gusty wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - tree(s) - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was landing a tundra tire-equipped airplane at a remote site for the purpose of transporting a hunting client to a camp. The landing area, where the pilot had landed in the past, was an area of tundra about 600 feet long and 50 feet wide. The landing area is located in a creek drainage, surrounded by mountains. The pilot indicated that as he was landing toward the south, about 3 feet above touchdown, a 20 to 30 knot gust of wind from the west blew the airplane into several willow trees. The airplane came to rest inverted, and received damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that the wind conditions had previously been light and variable. ## Factual narrative On August 7, 2003, about 2025 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N4320Z, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees and nosed over following a loss of control while landing at a remote site, about 38 miles east-northeast of Healy, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country business flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot, doing business as Max Schwab Master Guide, for the purpose of transporting a hunting client. The commercial certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated about 2000 from a remote area along Kansas Creek, about 32 miles east-northeast of Healy. No flight plan was filed, nor was one required. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), was notified of the accident by an air taxi operator from Talkeetna, Alaska. The air taxi operator said he received a cell phone call from the pilot, saying he crashed near Dry Creek, east of Healy. The pilot said he was transporting a hunting client to the area, and indicated he would continue the hunting trip and return on August 14. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB IIC, on August 19, the pilot reported that he departed Kansas Creek for a short flight to Dry Creek and planned to land on an area of tundra about 600 feet long and 50 feet wide. The pilot said he had landed at the spot in the past and was landing toward the south. The pilot indicated that about 3 feet above touchdown, a 20 to 30 knot gust of wind from the west blew the airplane into several willow trees. The airplane came to rest inverted, and received damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that the wind conditions had previously been light and variable. The landing area is located in a creek drainage, surrounded by mountains. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4320Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4320Z), registered now, S/N 18-8633, built 1968 (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: 18-8633 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Max Schwab Master Guide - Registered owner: Max Schwab - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 31, 2003 - Departed: HEALY, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, expired; seat: front; flight hours: 6,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 35 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °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 20030808037219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030808037219A), Aug 8, 2003: Piper PA18150, Healy, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Just prior to touch down the pilot encountered a sudden gust of wind which blew the aircraft into a patch of willow trees. The aircraft came to rest… ## Other investigations on N4320Z (3) 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 ANC98LA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA076), Jun 16, 1998: Piper PA-18 (N4320Z), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilots misjudgement of the tailwind, and excessive application of brakes during the off airport landing. - [NTSB ANC98LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA035), Apr 4, 1998: Piper PA-18 (N4320Z), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. Factors in the accident were snow covered terrain, and a hidden obstruction. - [NTSB ANC94LA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA062), Jun 1, 1994: Piper PA-18 (N4320Z), Kotzebue, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: DIRECTIONAL CONTROL NOT MAINTAINED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INADVERTANT GROUND LOOP/SWERVE. 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.