# NTSB ANC04LA091: Piper PA-18, N645RF, Palmer, AK, August 7, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 7, 2004, 08:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Palmer, AK - Coordinates: 61.7, -148.583328 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7000&lon=-148.5833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 59891 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04LA091 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59891/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA091 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudged distance/altitude during the final approach phase of landing, which resulted in an undershoot and subsequent collision with terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was landing a tundra tire-equipped airplane on a remote airstrip. The airstrip was oriented north/south, and was about 500 feet long. The pilot said he was landing toward the south, and collided with the edge of the airstrip, which is also the bank of a creek. He indicated the landing gear was torn off, and the airplane came to rest on its belly-mounted auxiliary fuel tank. The engine and propeller were damaged when the airplane nosed down on the airstrip. After the airplane was recovered and inspected by a mechanic, the pilot notified the NTSB investigator-in-charge that the airplane received structural damage to the aft gusset of the right main landing gear attach point. ## Factual narrative On August 7, 2004, about 0800 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N645RF, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain at the approach end of a remote airstrip, about 16 miles northeast of Palmer, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area on-demand cargo flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Wolf Lake Airport, Palmer, about 0730. No flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 7, the pilot reported that he was landing at an airstrip in Carpenter Creek, Alaska. The airstrip is oriented north/south, and is about 500 feet long. The pilot said he was landing toward the south and collided with the edge of the airstrip, which is also the bank of Carpenter Creek. He indicated the landing gear was torn off, and the airplane came to rest on its belly-mounted auxiliary fuel tank. The engine and propeller were damaged when the airplane nosed down on the airstrip. On August 11, after the airplane was recovered and inspected by a mechanic, the pilot notified the NTSB IIC that the airplane received structural damage to the aft gusset of the right main landing gear attach point. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N645RF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N645RF), registered now, S/N 18-8711, built 1968 (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: 18-8711 - Airframe hours: 5005 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2D 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Bishop, Gary Lee - Registered owner: Gary Bishop - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 8, 2004, 33 hours before - Departed: 4AK6, Palmer, AK - Destination: Palmer, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; 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 February 18, 2004; seat: front; flight hours: 20,000 total, 15,000 in this make and model, 20,000 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °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 20040807018739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040807018739A), Aug 7, 2004: Piper PA18150, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot was attempting a landing on a short airstrip. The airplane landed short, colliding with the edge of the airstrip at carpenter creek, Alaska.… 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.