- Date
- May 6, 2011, 10:50 local (18:50 UTC)
- Place
- Cordova, AK
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N1129APiper PA-18-125
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 30, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20110506013959A
- Case key
- 79065
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of aircraft control during final approach in gusty wind conditions, resulting in a hard landing.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot stated that on final approach to an off-airport landing site, about 50 feet above ground level, the airplane descended and impacted the terrain. The airplane received substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot said there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane, but the wind in the area was very erratic. The pilot said the accident could have been prevented if he had made a touch-and-go landing to evaluate the wind conditions prior to landing.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that, on final approach to an off-airport landing site, about 50 feet above ground level, the airplane started sinking violently and impacted terrain. He said there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane, but the wind in the area was very erratic. The airplane received substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1129A
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18-125
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-722
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320A2B, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 21, 2011
- Departed
- PAYA · Yakutat, AK
- Destination
- PACV · Cordova, AK
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 27
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 661 total · 209 in this make and model · 514 as pilot in command · 128 in the last 90 days · 64 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 45 °F
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 30, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 613 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N1129A · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.