# NTSB ANC05CA146: Piper PA-18, N1755P, Fairbanks, AK, September 12, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 11, 2005, 19:50 local (Sep 12, 2005, 03:50 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 64.183334, -147.75 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.1833&lon=-147.7500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 62478 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05CA146 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62478/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA146 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in a collision with a tree. A factor contributing to the accident was a tailwind. ## 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 - tailwind (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The airline transport certificated pilot was landing on a gravel surface area oriented east/west, that was about 700 feet long, and about 30 feet wide. The pilot stated he landed uphill toward the west, and about 20 feet after touchdown, a gust of wind lifted the tail of the airplane. The nose of the airplane veered to the right, and the right wing collided with a tree. The airplane received damage to the right wing, and the right wing lift strut. The pilot said that until the unexpected tailwind, the wind had been calm. ## Factual narrative On September 11, 2005, about 1950 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N1755P, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a spruce tree during the landing roll at a remote landing area, about 40 miles south-southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The airline transport certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Bradley Sky Ranch Airport, North Pole, Alaska, about 1905, and no flight plan was filed, nor was one required. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 16, the pilot reported that he was landing on a gravel surface area oriented east/west, that was about 700 feet long, and about 30 feet wide. The pilot stated he landed uphill toward the west, and about 20 feet after touch down, a gust of wind lifted the tail of the airplane. The nose of the airplane veered to the right, and the right wing collided with a tree. The airplane received damage to the right wing, and the right wing lift strut. The pilot said that until the unexpected tailwind, the wind had been calm. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1755P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1755P), registered now, S/N 18-4075 (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: 18-4075 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kenneth A. Thomas - Registered owner: Andrew Bryan - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 95Z, North Pole, AK - Destination: Fairbanks, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 9,600 total, 50 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days, 20 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 20050911024379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050911024379A), Sep 11, 2005: Piper PA18150, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot stated he landed uphill toward the west, and about 20 feet after touch down, a gust of wind lifted the tail of the airplane. The nose of the… ## Other investigations on N1755P (6) 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 ANC23LA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA083), Sep 16, 2023: Piper PA-18-150 (N1755P), McGrath, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during after encountering a wind gust during landing that resulted in an impact with terrain. - [NTSB ANC04LA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA039), Apr 11, 2004: Piper PA-18-150 (N1755P), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in the airplane entering deep snow alongside the runway, and nosing over. - [NTSB ANC00LA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA094), Jul 25, 2000: Piper PA-18 (N1755P), Cordova, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's excessive application of the airplane's brakes. - [NTSB ANC77DAG14](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC77DAG14), Nov 5, 1976: Piper PA-18 (N1755P), Mccarthy, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC72DAG59](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC72DAG59), Sep 20, 1971: Piper PA-18 (N1755P), Chitina, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC69D0075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC69D0075), Oct 5, 1968: Piper PA-18 (N1755P), 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.