# NTSB ANC03TA072: Piper PA-18-160, N7051, Anchorage, AK, July 9, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: July 9, 2003, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.174446, -149.996383 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1744&lon=-149.9964&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 3, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Anchorage FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 57464 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03TA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57464/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03TA072 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in an encounter with high brush. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - high vegetation - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot selected a dirt road to practice a proficiency landing. During the landing roll, the left wing contacted high brush encroaching on the landing area. The airplane made a sharp left turn, and stopped at the edge of the landing area. Both wingtips and the left aileron were damaged. ## Factual narrative On July 9, 2003, about 1400 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18-160 airplane, N7051, sustained substantial damage when it collided with high brush during the landing roll on a dirt road, about 10 miles south of Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) public use flight by the Alaska State Troopers at the time of the accident. The solo airline transport pilot was not injured. The flight departed the Soldotna Airport, Soldotna, Alaska, about 1315. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company VFR flight following procedures were in effect. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on July 9, the director of operations for the operator said the pilot was returning to Anchorage, from Soldotna, and decided to land on a dirt road for practice. According to the director of operations, the pilot told him he had landed on the dirt road several times before, but on the accident flight, the left wing encountered high brush during the landing roll, and the airplane was pulled off the road. Both of the airplane's wingtips and the left aileron were damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7051](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7051), registered now, S/N 18-2932, built 1953 (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: PA18-2932 - Airframe hours: 12865 - Engines: Lycoming O320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Public use - Registered owner: State of Alaska - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2003, 63 hours before - Departed: PASX, Soldotna, AK - Destination: Z41, Anchorage, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 15, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 15,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 14,000 as pilot in command, 209 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °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 20030709029259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030709029259A), Jul 9, 2003: Piper PA18150, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On a public service flight from soldotna to Anchorage the pilot made a practice landing on a dirt road. During rollout, the left wing struck high brush… ## Other investigations on N7051 (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 ANC07TA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07TA080), Aug 11, 2007: Piper PA-18 (N7051), McGrath, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was rough and uneven terrain conditions. - [NTSB ANC99TA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99TA061), May 15, 1999: Piper PA-18 (N7051), Nome, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. A factor in this accident was the crosswind. - [NTSB ANC87LA161](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC87LA161), Sep 17, 1987: Piper PA-18 (N7051), Sparrevohn, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC68F0100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC68F0100), Feb 25, 1968: Piper PA-18 (N7051), King Salmon, 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.