# NTSB ANC04LA065: Piper PA-18, N18ZF, McGrath, AK, June 16, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 16, 2004, 10:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: McGrath, AK - Coordinates: 63.169998, -156.269729 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.1700&lon=-156.2697&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 59447 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04LA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59447/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA065 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in the airplane nosing over during the landing roll. A factor contributing to the accident was the presence of soft tundra. ## 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 - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - terrain condition - tundra - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was landing in an open area of tundra next to a creek. As the airplane touched down, the pilot said he realized that the tundra surface was soft and wet. During the landing roll, the main landing gear tires dug into the soft terrain, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot, who is a certificated aviation mechanic, reported that the airplane received damage to the left wing lift strut, the rudder, and the vertical stabilizer. ## Factual narrative On June 16, 2004, about 1000 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N18ZF, sustained substantial damage when it encountered soft terrain and nosed over during the landing roll in a remote area, about 24 miles north-northwest of McGrath, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The commercial certificated pilot and the sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the McGrath Airport about 0930. 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 June 16, the pilot reported that he was landing in an open area of tundra next to a creek. As the airplane touched down, the pilot said he realized that the tundra surface was soft and wet. During the landing roll, the main landing gear tires dug into the soft terrain, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot, who is a certificated aviation mechanic, reported that the airplane received damage to the left wing lift strut, the rudder, and the vertical stabilizer. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N18ZF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N18ZF), registered now, S/N 18-1159, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-1159 - Airframe hours: 6731 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Merrill E. Danna - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 28, 2004, 56 hours before - Departed: PAMC, McGrath, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 18, 2004; seat: front; flight hours: 10,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °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 20040616011489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040616011489A), Jun 16, 2004: Piper PA18, Mcgrath, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot attempted a landing in a tundra tire equipped aircraft on arctic tundra next to a stream. He had often used this landing area to access a… 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.