# NTSB ANC03LA093: Piper PA-18-150, N3695P, Glennallen, AK, August 10, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 10, 2003, 10:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Glennallen, AK - Coordinates: 60.966667, -146.483337 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.9667&lon=-146.4833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Anchorage, FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 57675 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA093 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57675/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA093 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, which resulted in a nose over. A factor contributing to the accident was the soft sand of the sandbar. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - terrain condition - sand bar - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, takeoff - aborted ## Analysis The pilot said he landed the airplane on a sandbar to have lunch. When he attempted to takeoff, the airplane was not accelerating fast enough, and he aborted the takeoff. He said as the airplane slowed, the main wheels encountered deep sand, and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the tail and a lift strut. He said there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On August 10, 2003, about 1000 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N3695P, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over on a sandbar during an aborted takeoff, about 10 miles southeast of Glennallen, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) local personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo private 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 August 10, the pilot said he landed on a sandbar near Tazlina Lake to have lunch. He said when he attempted to takeoff, the airplane was not accelerating fast enough, and he aborted the takeoff. He said as the airplane slowed, the main wheels encountered deep sand, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot said the propeller, the tail, and possibly one of the lift struts were damaged. He said there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3695P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3695P), registered now, S/N 18-4597, built 1955 (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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-4597 - Airframe hours: 3689 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert Hanafi - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 24, 2002, 111 hours before - Departed: Glennallen, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 12, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 430 total, 144 in this make and model, 338 as pilot in command, 78 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20030810037199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030810037199A), Aug 10, 2003: Piper PA18150, Glennallen, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) After aborting a takeoff from a sandy/rocky strip, pilot encountered soft sandy/rock, causing the airplane to flip over. The aircraft sustained… ## Other investigations on N3695P (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 MKC69D0183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC69D0183), Aug 19, 1968: Piper PA-18 (N3695P), New Ulm, MN, 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.