# NTSB ANC10TA028: Piper PA-18-150, N82732, Stony River, AK, April 3, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: April 2, 2010, 16:00 local (Apr 3, 2010, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Stony River, AK - Coordinates: 61.56361, -156.23056 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5636&lon=-156.2306&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 1, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 75567 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC10TA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75567/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75567 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10TA028 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during taxi from landing, which resulted in the airplane sliding into trees. ## 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: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: 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) - [Taxi-from runway: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was on a public use wildlife patrol in a ski-equipped airplane when the accident occurred. The pilot reported that he landed on a frozen lake to make contact with the owner of a wilderness lodge, and that while taxiing from landing the airplane slid off the taxi area and into trees. The pilot said that he attempted to determine wind conditions on the ground and elected to land upslope to the east. He reported that his landing slide was longer than anticipated and he thought about going around. After almost coming to a stop, he said that he steered the airplane to the right edge of the landing area and attempted to use power to blow the tail of the airplane around; however, when he added power the skis failed to catch and the left wing struck a tree. Upon exiting the airplane he realized that he had landed downwind and that the wind appeared to be about 6 knots. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. The pilot noted substantial damage to both wings. ## Factual narrative On April 2, 2010, about 1600 Alaska daylight time, a ski-equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N82732, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees during taxi from landing on a frozen lake, about 30 miles east-southeast of Stony River, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the State of Alaska, Department of Public Safety, as a visual flight rules (VFR)public use wildlife patrol under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo private pilot was not injured. The flight departed McCarthy, Alaska, about 1100. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on April 5, a representative of the State of Alaska, said the pilot reported that he had landed on a frozen lake to make contact with the owner of a wilderness lodge. He said while taxiing from landing the airplane slid off the taxi area and into trees. The pilot reported substantial damage to both wings. In a written report dated April 6, the pilot wrote that after attempting to determine wind conditions on the ground he elected to land upslope to the east. He reported that his landing slide was longer than anticipated and he thought about going around, but did not. He continued that after almost coming to a stop he steered the airplane to the right edge of the landing area, and attempted to use power to blow the tail of the airplane around, and taxi to a safe area to park. He said when he added power to blow the tail around and turn to the right, the skies failed to catch and the left wing struck a tree causing the airplane to pivot to the left and the right wing struck another tree. The pilot said upon exiting the airplane he realized he had landed downwind, and the wind appeared to be about 6 knots from the west. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N82732](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82732), registered now, S/N 18-7709182, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150 - 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: 18-7709182 - Airframe hours: 6316 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft - state, Public use - Operator: State Of Alaska, doing business as Department of Public Safety - Registered owner: State Of Alaska - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 17, 2009 - Departed: PAMC, McGrath, AK - Destination: Stony River, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 6 knots - 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 20100403031149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100403031149A), Apr 3, 2010: Piper PA-18-150, Sleetmute, AK, Substantial damage. After a downwind landing on an ice covered frozen lake, airman added power to turn the aircraft around in order to taxi to parking. One ski was on ice and the… ## Other investigations on N82732 (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 ANC91GA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91GA087), Jul 4, 1991: Piper PA-18 (N82732), King Salmon, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY SWITCHED THE MAGNETOS OFF DURING THE FLIGHT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH, UNEVEN TERRAIN WITH LOOSE GRAVEL. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 15, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75567. 601 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 601 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328512&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.