# NTSB ANC06CA085: Piper PA-18-180, N9488D, Skwentna, AK, July 7, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 6, 2006, 18:30 local (Jul 7, 2006, 02:30 UTC) - Place: Skwentna, AK - Coordinates: 61.873611, -151.506393 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.8736&lon=-151.5064&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 64065 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC06CA085 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64065/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06CA085 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a loss of control during the landing roll, and an on ground encounter with terrain. Factors associated with the accident are the pilot's failure to maintain directional control, and the rough and 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 - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was landing on a remote gravel bar on a pleasure flight, under Title 14, CFR Part 91. He reported that upon landing the airplane hit either a hole, a rock, or a stump, which he did not see. He stated the airplane was diverted from its intended landing path, and the wing and propeller struck other objects before the airplane came to rest in the river. He said the wing, lift-strut, and propeller were damaged. ## Factual narrative The commercial certificated pilot was landing on a remote gravel bar on a pleasure flight, under Title 14, CFR Part 91. He reported that upon landing the airplane hit either a hole, a rock, or a stump, which he did not see. He stated the airplane was diverted from its intended landing path, and the wing and propeller struck other objects before the airplane came to rest in the river. He said the wing, lift-strut, and propeller were damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9488D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9488D), registered now, S/N 18-6740, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18A 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (registry code 7101837) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-6740 - Airframe hours: 3856 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-C4P 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Joseph Beck - Registered owner: Joseph Beck - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2006, 15 hours before - Departed: 6AK8, Two Lakes, AK - Destination: Skwentna, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; last flight review March 1, 2005; flight hours: 2,749 total, 480 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20060706012619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060706012619A), Jul 6, 2006: Piper PA18A150, Skwentna, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) According to the pilot, he was attempting to land on a sandbar. The aircraft hit an unknown object which caused the pilot to lose control. The aircraft… ## Other investigations on N9488D (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 ANC12CA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA053), Jun 17, 2012: Piper PA-18-150 (N9488D), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for taxi. - [NTSB SEA76DTI13](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA76DTI13), Sep 29, 1975: Piper PA-18A (N9488D), Fairfield, MT, 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.