# NTSB ANC04LA096: Piper PA-18, N8597D, Paxson, AK, August 26, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 26, 2004, 08:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Paxson, AK - Coordinates: 63.454444, -145.202774 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.4544&lon=-145.2028&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-FAI FSDO 01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 59990 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04LA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59990/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA096 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a collision with a rock and subsequent main landing gear collapse during the landing roll. A factor contributing to the accident was rough, uneven terrain. ## 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 - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rock(s)/boulder(s) - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis The airline transport certificated pilot was landing a tundra tire-equipped airplane at a remote landing spot at the conclusion of an on-demand passenger flight. The pilot said the landing area was a rocky ledge, about 900 feet long, and about 12 feet wide, located along the edge of a glacier, about 5,500 feet msl. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear collided with a rock, and the gear collapsed. The right wing struck the ground, and received damage to the wing spar. The pilot indicated that the visibility in the area consisted of hazy conditions with smoke and light rain. ## Factual narrative On August 26, 2004, about 0830 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N8597D, sustained substantial damage when the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground during the landing roll at a remote landing spot, about 28 miles north of Paxson, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country on-demand passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by 40 Mile Air Ltd., Tok, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Tok Junction Airport, Tok, Alaska, about 0730. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 26, the pilot reported that he was landing toward the west along the edge of the Spur Glacier, about 5,500 feet msl. The pilot said the landing area was a rocky ledge, about 900 feet long, and about 12 feet wide. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear collided with a rock, and the gear collapsed. The right wing struck the ground and received damage to the wing spar, outboard of the wing lift strut attach point. The pilot indicated that the visibility in the area consisted of hazy conditions with smoke and light rain. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8597D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8597D), registered now, S/N 18-6248, built 1957 (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: 18-6248 - Airframe hours: 4512 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: 40 Mile Air Ltd. - Registered owner: RWR Air Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 24, 2004, 6 hours before - Departed: 6K8, Tok, AK - Destination: Paxson, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 7,900 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 7,600 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 110 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 5 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 45 °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 20040826018809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040826018809A), Aug 26, 2004: Piper PA18150, Johnson River, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) [privacy data omitted] during a landing at a bush strip the aircraft hit a rock collapsing the right gear leg. The right wing struck the ground causing… ## Other investigations on N8597D (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 ANC06CA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06CA115), Aug 16, 2006: Piper PA-18 (N8597D), Tok, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to compensate for the wind conditions during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a collision with a tree. A factor contributing to the accident was a crosswind. - [NTSB ANC03CA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03CA110), Sep 7, 2003: Piper PA-18-180 (N8597D), Eagle, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area, and his excessive use of the airplane's brakes during the landing roll, resulting in a nose over. A factor associated with the accident was rough… - [NTSB ANC94LA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA129), Sep 2, 1994: Piper PA-18 (N8597D), Tok, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE WORN CAM SHAFT LOBE AND WORN VALVE LIFTER. - [NTSB ANC86LA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC86LA072), Jun 12, 1986: Piper PA-18 (N8597D), Fairbanks, 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.