# NTSB ANC09CA096: Piper PA-18, N5773D, Fairbanks, AK, September 5, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 4, 2009, 19:00 local (Sep 5, 2009, 03:00 UTC)
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Coordinates: 64.9925, -147.923049 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.9925&lon=-147.9230&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 29, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration (Operations)
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74705
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09CA096
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74705/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74705
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09CA096

## Probable cause

The pilot’s decision to land on unsuitable terrain, which resulted in a loss of control and a collision with trees.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md)
- [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot reported he was landing his tailwheel-equipped airplane on a soft, rough and uneven gravel runway at the conclusion of a local personal flight operated under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. He said immediately upon touchdown, the airplane veered to the right, and the right wing struck trees, which pivoted the airplane 180 degrees to the right. The left wing struck the ground and sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. In his written report to the NTSB the pilot noted that the accident might have been avoided if he had landed on the first part of the airstrip where the runway was wider.

## Factual narrative

The private pilot reported he was landing his tailwheel-equipped airplane on a soft, rough and uneven gravel runway at the conclusion of a local personal flight operated under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. He said immediately upon touchdown, the airplane veered to the right, and the right wing struck trees, which pivoted the airplane 180 degrees to the right. The left wing struck the ground and sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. In his written report to the NTSB the pilot noted that the accident might have been avoided if he had landed on the first part of the airstrip where the runway was wider.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5773D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5773D), registered now, S/N 18-5275, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-5275
- Airframe hours: 4423
- Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Jeffrey W. Croll
- Registered owner: Jeffrey W. Croll
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 27, 2009, 1 hours before
- Departed: Fairbanks, AK
- Destination: AK7, Fairbanks, AK
- Airport: AK7, Gold King Creek Airport, runway 27, 2,558 × 100 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 1,480 total, 680 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °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 20090905049399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090905049399A), Sep 5, 2009: Piper PA-18, Gold King, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that after landing on the ground the aircraft veered to the right and while avoiding hitting obstacles on the right of the runway, he ground…

## Other investigations on N5773D (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 ANC16CA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC16CA066), Sep 18, 2016: Piper PA 18 (N5773D), McGrath, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's excessive taxi speed, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent nose over.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 26, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74705. 608 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 608 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320507&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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.

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