# NTSB ANC08CA068: Piper PA-18, N1912A, Anchorage, AK, May 17, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 17, 2008, 10:12 local (18:12 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.200553, -149.835281 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2006&lon=-149.8353&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 68038 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08CA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68038/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08CA068 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind during landing. Contributing to the accident was the crosswind and an inadvertent ground loop. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-125, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7101812), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-125, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=7101812), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-125, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7101812), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-125, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101812), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-125, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7101812), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he was landing on runway 25, a dry paved runway, which required a correction for a slight left crosswind. He said that during touchdown, the airplane's left wing lifted, and he attempted to abort the landing by adding full engine power. The airplane's right wing struck the ground, and the airplane ground looped to the left, then nosed down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. Winds at the time of the accident were reported to be 190 degrees at 4 knots. The pilot noted in his written report to the NTSB that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he was landing on runway 25, a dry paved runway, which required a correction for a slight left crosswind. He said that during touchdown, the airplane's left wing lifted, and he attempted to abort the landing by adding full engine power. The airplane's right wing struck the ground, and the airplane ground looped to the left, then nosed down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. Winds at the time of the accident were reported to be 190 degrees at 4 knots. The pilot noted in his written report to the NTSB that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1912A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1912A), registered now, S/N 18-1748, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-125](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-125) (registry code 7101812) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-1748 - Airframe hours: 3255 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William G. Roth - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2008 - Departed: Z22, WILLOW, AK - Destination: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK - Airport: MRI, Merrill Field, runway 25, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2006; seat: front; flight hours: 798 total, 651 in this make and model, 716 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: MRI ## 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 20080517835349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080517835349A), May 17, 2008: Piper PA18125, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On landing runway 25 at mri the pilot was unable to control the aircraft. The aircraft veered off the runway, hit both wings and the engine of the… ## Other investigations on N1912A (1) 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 ANC85LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85LA038), Jan 8, 1985: Piper PA-18 (N1912A), Shaktoolik, 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.