# NTSB ANC05LA009: Piper PA-18, N5057Y, Chickaloon, AK, October 17, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 17, 2004, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Chickaloon, AK - Coordinates: 62.378887, -147.474441 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.3789&lon=-147.4744&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 60394 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60394/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05LA009 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane, which resulted in a collision with terrrain during the landing roll. Factors contributing to the accident were a rough/rutted and snow-covered airstrip surface, and an inadvertent ground loop. ## 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 - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - high vegetation - Gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis The private certificated pilot was landing a tundra tire and tailwheel-equipped airplane on a remote, snow-covered airstrip. The airstrip was oriented north/south, and was about 1,200 feet long and 50 feet wide. The pilot indicated that the surface of the airstrip was covered by about six inches of snow. The pilot said that during the landing roll, the left main landing gear tire dropped into a rut that was filled with snow. The airplane then ground looped to the left, and departed off the left side of the airstrip, into an area of brush. The airplane's right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane received damage to the right wingtip, the left wingtip, and the propeller. ## Factual narrative On October 17, 2004, about 1130 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N5057Y, sustained substantial damage when it ground looped during the landing roll at a remote airstrip, about 45 miles north of Chickaloon, 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 private certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Big Lake Airport, Big Lake, Alaska, about 1000, 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 October 18, the pilot reported that he was landing on Sheffield Strip, located along the Big Oshetna River. The airstrip was oriented north/south, and was about 1,200 feet long and 50 feet wide. The pilot indicated that the surface of the airstrip was covered by about six inches of snow. The pilot said that during the landing roll, the left main landing gear tire dropped into a rut that was filled with snow. The airplane then ground looped to the left, and departed off the left side of the airstrip, into an area of brush. The airplane's right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane received damage to the right wingtip, the left wingtip, and the propeller. The airplane was reported overdue after the accident, and the pilot and passenger spent the night in a cabin at the airstrip. Search personnel located the airplane the following day. A Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) was not received from the pilot. The aeronautical experience listed in this report was an estimate based on a review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records on file in the Airman and Medical Records Center located in Oklahoma City. On the pilot's application for a medical certificate, dated July 28, 2003, the pilot indicated that his total aeronautical experience consisted of about 30 hours, all of which were accrued in the previous 6 months. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5057Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5057Y), registered now, S/N 18-7890, built 1962 (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: 18-7890 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard A. Kinmon Sr. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: BGQ, Big Lake, AK - Destination: Chickaloon, AK - Airport: Sheffield Strip, runway 18, 1,200 × 50 ft, snow ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 60 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 32 °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 20041017029589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041017029589A), Oct 17, 2004: Piper PA18150, Chickaloon, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On Sunday October 17, 2004, the pilot and one passenger departed big lake (bgq) for a flight to the big oshetna area. Upon arrival at sheffield's, a… ## Other investigations on N5057Y (2) 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 ANC19LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC19LA053), Sep 5, 2019: Piper PA18 (N5057Y), Chugiak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: One of the pilot’s inadvertent application of the airplane's brakes, which resulted in a nose over. - [NTSB ANC07LA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07LA020), Feb 13, 2007: Piper PA-18-150 (N5057Y), Gulkana, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The partial loss of engine power for an undetermined reason during takeoff, which resulted in an aborted takeoff and collision with trees. 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.