# NTSB ANC04LA103: Piper PA-18-150, N82353, Anchorage, AK, September 3, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 3, 2004, 13:26 local (21:26 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.213611, -149.844451 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2136&lon=-149.8445&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Anchorage Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 60080 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04LA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60080/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA103 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to compensate for a crosswind during the landing roll, and his failure to maintain directional control which resulted in a loss of control, an encounter with a ditch, and the airplane nosing over. A factor in the accident was a crosswind. ## 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 - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The private pilot reported he was landing the tundra tire equipped tailwheel airplane on a gravel airstrip with a crosswind from his left. During the landing roll, he was unable to maintain directional control, and the airplane went off the runway to the right, encountered a shallow ditch, and nosed over. The airplane received structural damage to the rudder and wing lift struts. The pilot noted there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. A Special Weather Observation taken at the airport immediately after the accident, indicated the wind was from 290 degrees True (266 magnetic) at 15 knots. ## Factual narrative On September 3, 2004, about 1326 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N82353, sustained substantial damage following a loss of directional control while landing on runway 03 at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska. The solo private pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 local personal flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated at Merrill Field about 1215. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on September 7, the pilot related that during the landing roll on the gravel-surfaced runway, as the airplane was nearly stopped, a gust of wind from the left (west) pushed the airplane to the right. He said he attempted to correct to the left, but a second gust pushed the airplane to the right again, and the airplane went off the runway, encountered a shallow ditch, and nosed over. The airplane received structural damage to the rudder and wing lift struts. The pilot noted there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. A Special Weather Observation taken at Merrill Field immediately following the accident, noted that the wind was from 290 True (266 magnetic) at 15 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N82353](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82353), registered now, S/N 18-7809178, built 1978 (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: 18-7809178 - Airframe hours: 636 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Eric A. Swenson - Registered owner: Robert D. Swenson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 9, 2004, 10 hours before - Departed: MRI, Anchorage, AK - Airport: MRI, Merrill Field, runway 03, 2,000 × 60 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 17; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 70 total, 17 in this make and model, 15 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 266° at 15 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.63 inHg - Observed at: PAMR ## 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 20040903025019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040903025019A), Sep 3, 2004: Piper PA18150, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 03, 2004, at approximately 13:26 Alaska standard time, a PA-18, N82353, piloted by eric swenson, a newly certified private pilot, lost… 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.