# NTSB ANC03LA100: Piper PA-18-160, N2608S, Glennallen, AK, August 22, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 21, 2003, 19:30 local (Aug 22, 2003, 03:30 UTC) - Place: Glennallen, AK - Coordinates: 62.064723, -146.460556 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.0647&lon=-146.4606&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA, Anchorage Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 57747 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA100 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57747/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA100 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop, and collapse of the main landing gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,oversized tires ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot reported that he was landing a tailwheel and tundra tire equipped airplane on a gravel airstrip in calm wind conditions. Shortly after touchdown, the airplane swerved to the right, and the pilot was unable to maintain directional control. The left main landing gear subsequently collapsed, and the left wing struck the ground, damaging the rear spar. The pilot said he was unaware of any preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On August 21, 2003, about 1930 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel and tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18-160 airplane, N2608S, sustained substantial damage when the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing struck the runway, following a loss of control during the landing roll at the Tazlina airstrip, located about 30 miles east of Glennallen, Alaska. The Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. The flight departed a remote off-airport site near the Hallett River at 1815, and the destination was the Tazlina airstrip. During a telephone conversation with National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 21 at 2142, the pilot related the accident airplane has 29-inch tundra tires, and that prior to landing at Tazlina, he had departed an off-airport site near the Hallett River without incident. He said he was landing on runway 13 with a calm wind, and that shortly after touchdown on the gravel runway, the airplane went quickly to the right. He said he was unable to keep the airplane aligned with the runway, and as it continued to the right, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing contacted the ground, damaging the rear spar. The pilot said he was unaware of any preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane, but that he and an aviation mechanic were going to check the brakes to be certain that the right brake didn't lock during the landing roll. As of December 12, 2003, the pilot had not contacted the NTSB IIC regarding any mechanical issues with the airplane, and the IIC's attempts to contact the pilot were unsuccessful. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2608S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2608S-2017-06-21), registration cancelled 2017-06-21, S/N 18-7909165, built 1979 (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: 18-7909165 - Airframe hours: 4408 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gary S. Munoz - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2002, 60 hours before - Departed: Hallett River, AK - Destination: Z14, Glennallenn, AK - Airport: Z14, Tazlina, runway 12, 900 × 42 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; 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 October 12, 2000; seat: front; flight hours: 961 total, 473 in this make and model, 898 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °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 20030821037139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030821037139A), Aug 21, 2003: Piper PA18150, Tazlina, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot performed a wheel landing at Tazlina airstrip. Upon touchdown the pilot lost directional control and the aircraft veered to the right. The left… 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.