# NTSB ANC11CA020: Piper PA-18A 150, N3573P, Beluga Lake, AK, March 19, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 19, 2011, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Beluga Lake, AK - Coordinates: 60.51472, -152.088333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.5147&lon=-152.0883&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 20, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 78669 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11CA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78669/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78669 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA020 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to land on unsuitable terrain, resulting in the airplane nosing over. ## 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-18A 150, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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-18A 150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=7101837), [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. - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was landing the ski-equipped airplane on a glacier when the left ski got caught in the snow, and the airplane nosed over. The left wing and the vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The airplane was equipped with a required emergency locator transmitter (ELT), however, it was an older generation ELT that transmitted on 121.5 megahertz, not the newer, digital version that transmits on 406 megahertz. As of February 1, 2009, the search and rescue satellites that receive ELT signals no longer had the capability to receive the older analog 121.5 megahertz ELTs. The 406 megahertz ELTs are received within seconds of activation, and rescuers are notified within minutes of the accident location. In this accident, the pilot was missing for four days, but was able to hike off the glacier, where he was located by rescuers. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he was landing the ski-equipped airplane on a glacier when the left ski caught in the snow, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The left wing and the vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The airplane was equipped with a required emergency locator transmitter (ELT), however, it was an older generation ELT that transmitted on 121.5 megahertz, not the newer, digital version that transmits on 406 megahertz. As of February 1, 2009, the search and rescue satellites that receive ELT signals no longer had the capability to receive the older analog 121.5 megahertz ELTs. The 406 megahertz ELTs are received within seconds of activation, and rescuers are notified within minutes of the accident location. In this accident, the pilot was missing for four days, but was able to hike off the glacier, where he was located by rescuers. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3573P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3573P), registered now, S/N 18-4527, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18A 150 - 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: 18-4527 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Z41, Anchorage, AK - Destination: Z41, Anchorage, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 530 total, 324 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 27 °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 20110319006569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110319006569A), Mar 19, 2011: Piper PA-18A-150, Beluga Lake, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot departed the lake hood strip in anchorage, Alaska on 3-19-2011 and did not file a flight plan. The pilot landed on a glacier approximately 65 miles… ## Other investigations on N3573P (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 ANC04LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA002), Oct 11, 2003: Piper PA-18-150 (N3573P), Ketchikan, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed after an aborted landing, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and a ground loop. A factor contributing to the accident was the loss of directional… - [NTSB ANC74DAG41](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC74DAG41), Sep 2, 1973: Piper PA-18 (N3573P), Kenai, AK, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 29, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78669. 438 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 438 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345759&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.