# NTSB ANC11CA047: Piper PA-18-150, N3858Z, Palmer, AK, June 14, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 14, 2011, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Palmer, AK - Coordinates: 61.503055, -148.941116 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5031&lon=-148.9411&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 4, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration (ASI) - NTSB case key (mKey): 80765 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11CA047 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80765/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80765 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA047 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control while landing in a crosswind. ## 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) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot said he was landing at a remote, gravel-covered, off-airport site with a left crosswind. On touchdown, the airplane bounced and became airborne. He recovered from the bounce, and added power to cushion the landing, but a gust of wind lifted the left wing before touchdown. He aborted the landing, and added full engine power, but the airplane weather-vaned into the wind, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane received substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot said he was landing at a remote, gravel-covered, off-airport site with a left crosswind. On touchdown, the airplane bounced and became airborne. He recovered from the bounce, and added power to cushion the landing, but a gust of wind lifted the left wing before touchdown. He aborted the landing, and added full engine power, but the airplane weather-vaned into the wind, and the right wing struck the ground. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The airplane received substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3858Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3858Z), registered now, S/N 18-7629, built 1961 (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: 18-7629 - Airframe hours: 4377 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Adam J. Grenda - Registered owner: Tracy Vren - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 18, 2011, 15 hours before - Departed: PAVB, Chugiak, AK - Destination: Palmer, AK - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 19, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 433 total, 9 in this make and model, 433 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg ## 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 20110614011109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110614011109A), Jun 14, 2011: Piper PA-18-150, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. On June 14, 2011, [privacy data omitted], commercial pilot certificate [privacy data omitted], was the pilot in command of N3858Z, a PA-18, when he lost… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 5, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80765. 548 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 548 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352007&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.