# NTSB ANC04LA039: Piper PA-18-150, N1755P, Fairbanks, AK, April 11, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 11, 2004, 08:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 64.815277, -147.856384 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8153&lon=-147.8564&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA, FSDO-01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 59048 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04LA039 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59048/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA039 ## Probable cause The student pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in the airplane entering deep snow alongside the runway, and nosing over. ## 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) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - snow covered - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The student pilot lost directional control of the tailwheel-equipped airplane during the landing roll of a touch and go landing. The airplane veered off the runway into the snow and nosed over. The airplane sustained damage to the rudder, left wing, nose, and propeller. ## Factual narrative On April 11, 2004, about 0800 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N1755P, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control during the landing roll, and subsequent nose over at the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska. The solo student pilot was not injured. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal local flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on April 11, the pilot said he was distracted by a radio call from the tower while on downwind for landing. He said the tower advised he was cleared to land, and issued a wake turbulence caution for a departing jet airplane. He said after touchdown, he overcorrected for drift, and may have applied too much power. The airplane subsequently exited the runway to the right, and traversed deep snow on the side of the runway for about 20 yards before it nosed over. The pilot said there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. He said the airplane received damage to the rudder, left wing, nose, and propeller. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1755P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1755P), registered now, S/N 18-4075 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-150 - 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: 18-4075 - Airframe hours: 3673 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Edgar Bryan - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 2003, 92 hours before - Departed: FAI, Fairbanks, AK - Destination: FAI - Airport: FAI, Fairbanks International, runway 19L, 6,500 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 39; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 55 total, 49 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 23 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.34 inHg - Observed at: FAI ## 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 20040411005379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040411005379A), Apr 11, 2004: Piper PA18150, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) [privacy data omitted] on April 11, 2004, at 0800 local time, N1755P veered off the right side of runway 19L after touchdown. During the 3 point landing… ## Other investigations on N1755P (6) 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 ANC23LA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA083), Sep 16, 2023: Piper PA-18-150 (N1755P), McGrath, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during after encountering a wind gust during landing that resulted in an impact with terrain. - [NTSB ANC05CA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA146), Sep 12, 2005: Piper PA-18 (N1755P), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in a collision with a tree. A factor contributing to the accident was a tailwind. - [NTSB ANC00LA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA094), Jul 25, 2000: Piper PA-18 (N1755P), Cordova, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's excessive application of the airplane's brakes. - [NTSB ANC77DAG14](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC77DAG14), Nov 5, 1976: Piper PA-18 (N1755P), Mccarthy, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC72DAG59](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC72DAG59), Sep 20, 1971: Piper PA-18 (N1755P), Chitina, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC69D0075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC69D0075), Oct 5, 1968: Piper PA-18 (N1755P), 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.