# NTSB ANC04CA116: Piper PA-18-180, N3685Z, Talkeetna, AK, September 28, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 27, 2004, 17:00 local (Sep 28, 2004, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.361946, -151.079162 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.3619&lon=-151.0792&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 60232 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04CA116 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60232/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04CA116 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area, which resulted in a nose over. A factor associated with the accident was tundra. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - tundra (contributing factor) ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was landing in a tundra-covered meadow. The pilot said that prior to landing, he made two passes over the site and visually checked the condition of the landing site before the accident landing. He said that during the landing roll, the main landing gear tires broke through the tundra, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing and left wing lift struts. The pilot noted that there were preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On September 27, 2004, about 1700 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18-180 airplane, N3685Z, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during the landing roll at a remote off-airport site, located about 28 miles east of Talkeetna, 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 commercial certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Wasilla Airport, Wasilla, Alaska, about 1400. 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 29, the pilot reported that he was landing in a tundra-covered meadow. The pilot said that prior to landing, he made two passes over the site and visually checked the condition of the landing site before the accident landing. He said that during the landing roll, the main landing gear tires broke through the tundra, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing and left wing lift struts. The pilot noted that there were preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3685Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3685Z), registered now, S/N 18-7417, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-180 - 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: 18-7417 - Airframe hours: 8584 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Steve Grand - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 21, 2004, 42 hours before - Departed: IYS, Wasilla, AK - Destination: Talkeetna, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 1, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 3,215 total, 353 in this make and model, 43 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 5 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - 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 20040927024159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040927024159A), Sep 27, 2004: Piper PA18150, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) This flight was conducted under CFR 14 part 91. I interviewed the pilot and he stated that he was landing on muskeg and on rollout a soft area was… ## Other investigations on N3685Z (2) 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 ANC01LA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA114), Aug 16, 2001: Piper PA-18-160 (N3685Z), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadvertent ground loop during the landing roll. - [NTSB ANC97TA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97TA095), Jun 27, 1997: Piper PA-18-180 (N3685Z), Tok, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The second pilot/dual student's failure to maintain a proper glidepath, and the pilot-in-command/flight instructor's inadequate supervision. A factor associated with the accident was a downdraft. 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.