# NTSB ANC10CA088: Piper PA-18-160, N9128D, Arctic Village, AK, September 6, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 5, 2010, 17:30 local (Sep 6, 2010, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Arctic Village, AK - Coordinates: 68.090538, -145.600341 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=68.0905&lon=-145.6003&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA, Fairbanks Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 77270 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC10CA088 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77270/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77270 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10CA088 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during an off-airport landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 98 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 160 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 83 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane was operating under Title 14, CFR Part 91 as a local personal flight when the accident occurred. The solo private pilot reported he was landing at a rough and uneven off-airport site in a tailwheel airplane equipped with 31-inch tundra tires. He said as he entered the landing flare, the tailwheel hit a raised portion of the landing surface, which pushed the tail up, and pushed the nose of the airplane down, resulting in the propeller striking the ground. When the propeller hit the ground, the pilot said he was unable to maintain control, and the airplane nosed over, sustaining structural damage to both wings and rudder. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane that precipitated the accident. ## Factual narrative The airplane was operating under Title 14, CFR Part 91 as a local personal flight when the accident occurred. The solo private pilot reported he was landing at a rough and uneven off-airport site in a tailwheel airplane equipped with 31-inch tundra tires. He said as he entered the landing flare, the tailwheel hit a raised portion of the landing surface, which pushed the tail up, and pushed the nose of the airplane down, resulting in the propeller striking the ground. When the propeller hit the ground, the pilot said he was unable to maintain control, and the airplane nosed over, sustaining structural damage to both wings and rudder. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane that precipitated the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9128D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9128D), registered now, S/N 18-6509, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-160 - 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: 18-6509 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Michael A. Chapman - Registered owner: Wolsey Ardell Lamont - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Arctic Village, AK - Destination: Arctic Village, AK - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: front; flight hours: 1,800 total, 200 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm ## 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 20100905049389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100905049389A), Sep 5, 2010: Piper PA-18-150, Arctic Village, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot stated he was operating off a 200 foot tundra strip. On his second landing, the tail wheel hit a tussock launching the tail into the air. The… ## Other investigations on N9128D (3) 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 ANC26FA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26FA106), Sep 18, 2026: Piper PA-18-150 (N9128D), Northway, AK, 2 fatal, investigation ongoing - [NTSB ATL93LA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93LA022), Nov 7, 1992: Piper PA-18-150 (N9128D), Columbia, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHICH RESULTED FROM FUEL STARVATION WHEN THE CARBURETOR FLOAT VALVE STUCK IN THE CLOSED POSITION. A FACTOR WAS THE SOFT FIELD . - [NTSB DEN87LA139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87LA139), May 30, 1987: Piper PA-18-150 (N9128D), Wolf Point, MT, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 27, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77270. 576 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 576 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338515&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. --- 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.