# NTSB ANC03LA117: Piper PA-18, N6978B, Ninilchick, AK, September 17, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 16, 2003, 16:30 local (Sep 17, 2003, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Ninilchick, AK - Coordinates: 59.983333, -151.095001 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.9833&lon=-151.0950&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 57949 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57949/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA117 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane which resulted in a collision with terrain during an approach to landing on a ridgeline. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the wind conditions, and an unfavorable wind along the ridgeline. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly ## Analysis The private certificated pilot was making a landing approach to a ridgeline that was oriented east/west, and was about 1,000 feet long and 30 to 100 feet wide. The pilot said he was landing toward the east. He described the wind as 10 to 15 knots from the southeast. As he approached the ground, the pilot said a burble of wind over the ridge lifted the right wing. The airplane collided with the ridge, and then nosed over. The airplane received damage to the wings, fuselage, and landing gear. ## Factual narrative On September 16, 2003, about 1630 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N6978B, sustained substantial damage when it collided with the ground during the final landing approach to a remote ridgeline, about 15 miles east of Ninilchick, 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, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1530. 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 17, the pilot reported that he was making an approach to a ridgeline that was oriented east/west, and was about 1,000 feet long, and 30 to 100 feet wide. The pilot said he was landing toward the east. He described the wind as 10 to 15 knots from the southeast. As he approached the ground, the pilot said a burble of wind over the ridge lifted the right wing. The airplane collided with the ridge, and then nosed over. The airplane received damage to the wings, fuselage, and landing gear. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6978B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6978B), registered now, S/N 18-5100 (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: 18-5100 - Airframe hours: 4692 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jerold L. Vantrease - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 26, 2003, 70 hours before - Departed: PAMR, Anchorage, AK - Destination: PAHO, Homer, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; last flight review April 11, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 710 total, 697 in this make and model, 648 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 20 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 20030916025509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030916025509A), Sep 16, 2003: Piper PA18150, Homer, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) During an attempt to land at a remote ridgeline landing site, about 15 miles west of ninilchick, AK. The pilot lost control due to gusty winds coming… ## Other investigations on N6978B (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 ANC87LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC87LA109), Jul 26, 1987: Piper PA-18-150 (N6978B), Levelock, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB LAX66A0062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX66A0062), Feb 7, 1966: Piper PA-18 (N6978B), Empire, NV, destroyed, 1 fatal - [NTSB OAK66D0139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK66D0139), Oct 30, 1965: Piper PA-18 (N6978B), Eagleville, CA, 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.