# NTSB ANC05CA115: Piper PA-18, N9062D, Port Heiden, AK, August 1, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 1, 2005, 10:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Port Heiden, AK - Coordinates: 56.361667, -160.188339 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=56.3617&lon=-160.1883&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 62120 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05CA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62120/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA115 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudged distance/altitude during final approach, which resulted in an undershoot and an in-flight 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, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The private pilot reported that while practicing beach landings he made a low, slow pass over a beach to check its suitability for landing. After determining the beach was suitable for landing, he made a left turn to the beach for landing. He added flaps in the turn, and as he turned final, he realized he was too low and too slow. He added power, but the airplane impacted terrain short of the intended landing area. The landing gear collapsed, and the wings and fuselage impacted the ground. The pilot stated there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On August 1, 2005, about 1045 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18 airplane, N9062D, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain while landing on a beach, about 50 miles southwest of Port Heiden, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The private certificated pilot and sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at a private gravel airstrip northeast of the accident site, about 1015. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 2, the pilot said he borrowed the airplane from a lodge owner to practice beach landings. He said he flew low over the beach, and determined it was suitable for landing. After the low pass, he said he made a left turn to the beach for landing. He said he added flaps, but when he rolled out of the turn to final he was "too low and out of airspeed." He said he added power, but the airplane landed hard, and the main landing gear collapsed. The pilot said the airplane sustained structural damage to the wings and fuselage. He said prior to the accident there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9062D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9062D), registered now, S/N 18-6427, built 1958 (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 AEIO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-320-series) (registry code 41500, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-6427 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jonathan Stone - Registered owner: Cinder River Lodge Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Port Heiden, AK - Destination: Port Heiden, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 193 total, 100 in this make and model, 43 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20050801017479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050801017479A), Aug 1, 2005: Piper PA18, Port Heiden, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) While conducting takeoff(s) and landing(s) on an off airport beach site, the pilot lost control of the aircraft and struck a wingtip, which resulted in… 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.