# NTSB ANC11CA115: Piper PA-18-150, N8998Y, Fairbanks, AK, September 26, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 25, 2011, 17:30 local (Sep 26, 2011, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 64.813888, -147.918609 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8139&lon=-147.9186&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO-01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 82468 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11CA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82468/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82468 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA115 ## Probable cause The student pilot's hard landing in a gusting wind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuselage: longerons/stringers (main fus)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035313): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035313/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035313/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: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot was landing the float-equipped airplane on choppy water in a gusting wind. The airplane landed hard and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The student pilot did not report any mechanical issues with the airplane prior to the accident, and he stated that he should not have flown in those conditions. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot was landing the float-equipped airplane on choppy water in a gusting wind. The airplane landed hard, and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot did not report any mechanical issues with the airplane prior to the accident, and stated he should not have flown in those conditions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8998Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8998Y-2018-12-20), registration cancelled 2018-12-20, S/N 18-7509132, built 1975 (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: 18-7509132 - Airframe hours: 1943 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Larry William G - Registered owner: Larry William G - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 2, 2011 - Departed: AK28, Fairbanks, AK - Destination: AK28, Fairbanks, AK - Airport: AK28, Chena Marina Seaplane, runway 36, 4,700 × 60 ft, water ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 68; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 273 total, 273 in this make and model, 273 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken ## 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 20110925027959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110925027959A), Sep 25, 2011: Piper PA-18-150, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. Airman states that upon a return flight from birch lake, AK to Chena Marina, AK he was landing at Chena Marina (AK28) and "the air just gave out from under me"… ## Other investigations on N8998Y (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 ANC16LA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC16LA060), Aug 27, 2016: Piper PA 18-150 (N8998Y), Salcha, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to continue visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain. - [NTSB ANC77DAH04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC77DAH04-201352), Oct 15, 1976: Piper PA-18 (N8998Y), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 11, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82468. 651 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 651 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361228&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.