# NTSB ANC11CA035: Piper PA-18A, N9279D, Coldfoot, AK, May 20, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 19, 2011, 22:45 local (May 20, 2011, 06:45 UTC) - Place: Coldfoot, AK - Coordinates: 66.839447, -149.837493 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.8394&lon=-149.8375&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 30, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Fairbanks FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 79170 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11CA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/79170/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79170 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA035 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while taxiing in gusty wind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101804), [All aircraft, 9,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-18A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=7101804), [All aircraft, 595 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101804), [All aircraft, 4,590 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis During taxi, after an off-airport landing, the pilot stated that a wind gust caught the airplane from behind which resulted in the airplane nosing over and sustaining substantial damage to the right wing lift struts. ## Factual narrative During taxi, after an off-airport landing, the pilot stated that a wind gust from behind the airplane resulted in the airplane nosing over and sustaining damage to the right wing lift struts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9279D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9279D), registered now, S/N 18-6582 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18A - Registry model: [Piper PA-18A](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a) (registry code 7101804) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-6582 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Salitan Erik R - Registered owner: Salitan Erik R - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Wiseman, AK - Destination: Bettles, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 19, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 653 total, 65 in this make and model, 602 as pilot in command, 81 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 10 knots, gusting 15 ## 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 20110520015259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110520015259A), May 20, 2011: Piper PA-18A, Jim River, AK, Substantial damage. Airplane nosed over during landing rollout. ## Other investigations on N9279D (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 ANC90FA187](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC90FA187), Sep 27, 1990: Piper PA-18A (N9279D), Birchwood, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO CORRECTLY ANALYZE THE WIND AND ITS EFFECT ON THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING; THEREBY FAILING TO MAINTAIN PROPER DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79170. 545 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 545 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350598&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.