# NTSB ANC05LA072: Piper PA-18, N9206Y, Cordova, AK, May 7, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 7, 2005, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Cordova, AK - Coordinates: 60.056945, -143.453613 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.0569&lon=-143.4536&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 - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 61446 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05LA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61446/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05LA072 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, and his failure to maintain control of the airplane, which resulted in a nose over during the landing roll. A factor contributing to the accident was 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 - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was landing a tundra tire-equipped airplane on a beach. During the landing roll, the airplane encountered an unseen bump in the terrain. The tailwheel bounced which resulted in a nose over. The airplane received structural damage to the fuselage, wing lift struts, propeller and rudder. ## Factual narrative On May 7, 2005, about 1330 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N9206Y, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during the landing roll on a remote beach, about 66 miles east of Cordova, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area business flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot who was a guide for Fejes Guide Service Ltd., Cordova. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from a lodge in the area, 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 May 8, 2005, the owner of the guide service reported that the pilot was landing on a beach, north-northwest of Midtimber Lake and the Seal River. The owner said the pilot told him that during the landing roll on a flat beach, the airplane encountered a bump in the terrain, and momentarily became airborne. When the airplane touched down again, the pilot applied the brakes and the airplane nosed over. The owner of the guide service stated that he did not know the purpose for the landing. The airplane received structural damage to the fuselage, wing lift struts, propeller and rudder. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, the pilot indicated that during the landing roll, the airplane rolled over an unseen bump, which caused the tailwheel to bounce high enough to cause the airplane to nose over. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9206Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9206Y), registered now, S/N 18-8921, built 1971 (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: 18-8921 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Fejes Guide Service Ltd. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Cordova, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 9,347 total, 2,101 in this make and model, 9,300 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °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 20050507011889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050507011889A), May 7, 2005: Piper PA18150, Cordova, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) During landing on a beach, the aircraft encountered a bump in the beach, became airborne and nosed over. 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.