# NTSB ANC03LA107: Piper PA-18, N4500W, Koliganek, AK, September 3, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 3, 2003, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Koliganek, AK - Coordinates: 60.3325, -158.103607 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.3325&lon=-158.1036&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 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 57861 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57861/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA107 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during an aborted landing, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent collision with terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - tundra ## Analysis The private certificated pilot was in cruise flight and noticed the airplane's carbon monoxide detector was black. He said he decided to land in a tundra-covered area that was about 1000 feet long, where he had landed in the past. He made one landing attempt, but decided to perform a go-around. On the second landing attempt, the pilot said he touched down, but he was going too fast. He aborted the landing and added full power. The airplane lifted-off, and climbed to between 15 to 20 feet above the ground. The pilot indicated that he began a slight right turn, at which time, the airplane settled to the ground. The landing gear collapsed, and the airplane received damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot said the wind was light and variable. ## Factual narrative On September 3, 2003, about 1400 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N4500W, sustained substantial damage when it collided with tundra-covered terrain following a loss of control during an aborted landing, about 45 miles northwest of Koliganek, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Naknek Airport, Naknek, Alaska, about 1000. No flight plan was filed, nor was one required. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 3, the pilot reported that he was in cruise flight and noticed the airplane's carbon monoxide detector was black. He said he decided to land in an area that was about 1000 feet long, where he had landed in the past. He made one landing attempt, but decided to perform a go-around. On the second landing attempt, the pilot said he touched down, but he was going too fast. He aborted the landing and added full power. The airplane lifted-off, and climbed to between 15 to 20 feet above the ground. The pilot indicated that he began a slight right turn, at which time, the airplane settled to the ground. The landing gear collapsed, and the airplane received damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot said the wind was light and variable. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4500W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4500W), registered now, S/N 18-8009019, built 1980 (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: 18-8009019 - Airframe hours: 3148 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James M. Coryell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 28, 2002, 213 hours before - Departed: 5NK, NAKNEK, AK - Destination: PANI, ANIAK, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 16, 2003; seat: front ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 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 20030903025479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030903025479A), Sep 3, 2003: Piper PA18150, Koliganek, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) After departing naknek, Alaska on the morning of September 3, 2003, pilot james coryell landed once at levelock, took off and flew northwest. While… ## Other investigations on N4500W (4) 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 WPR26LA348](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA348), Sep 15, 2026: Piper PA-18-150 (N4500W), Roundup, MT, substantial damage, investigation ongoing - [NTSB GAA19CA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA045), Oct 27, 2018: Piper PA18 (N4500W), Denver, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing in gusting wind conditions. - [NTSB ANC97TA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97TA045), Apr 1, 1997: Piper PA-18 (N4500W), Noatak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane, which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop and damage to the airplane. Factors associated with the accident were: the ice/snow… - [NTSB ANC92T#A12](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92T%23A12), Dec 19, 1991: Piper PA-18-150 (N4500W), Anchorage, AK, 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.