# NTSB ANC04LA095: Piper PA-18-150, N8653Y, Soldotna, AK, August 13, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 13, 2004, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Soldotna, AK - Coordinates: 60.516666, -150.983337 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.5167&lon=-150.9833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Anchorage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59972 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04LA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59972/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA095 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and uncontrolled descent. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The private certificated pilot was maneuvering a float-equipped airplane low over the water, in preparation for landing. He reported that while in a right turn, the airplane stalled and collided with the surface of the lake. He said that after the collision, the airplane nosed over and partially sank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane, and that at the time of the accident, he estimated the winds from the northwest at 10 knots. ## Factual narrative On August 13, 2004, about 1530 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N8653Y, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control and subsequent collision with the waters of Skilak Lake, about 16 miles east of Soldotna, 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 private certificated pilot was not injured; the sole passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated about 1525, from a private residence located on Caribou Island, located in the center of Skilak Lake, and about 3 miles from the accident site. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 24, the pilot reported that after departing from Caribou Island, he proceeded northwest for the short flight to the northwestern shore of Skilak Lake. He said that while maneuvering low over the water for a landing to the east, while in a right turn, the airplane stalled and collided with the surface of the lake. He added that after the collision, the airplane nosed over and partially sank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, he estimated the winds to be out of the northwest at 10 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8653Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8653Y), registered now, S/N 18-7309024 (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: 18-7309027 - Airframe hours: 1890 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ward A. Hulbert - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2004, 1,875 hours before - Departed: Soldotna, AK - Destination: Soldotna, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 3,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 61 °F ## Other investigations on N8653Y (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 ANC94LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA138), Sep 13, 1994: Piper PA-18 (N8653Y), Kodiak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR CROSSWIND CONDITIONS. A CROSSWIND AND ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT. - [NTSB ANC88LA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC88LA097), Jul 27, 1988: Piper PA-18 (N8653Y), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC83LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83LA027), Dec 25, 1982: Piper PA-18-150 (N8653Y), Hope, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC82DAG31](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC82DAG31), Jun 12, 1982: Piper PA-18 (N8653Y), 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.