# NTSB ANC12CA005: Piper PA-18-150, N82481, Portage, AK, October 22, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 22, 2011, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Portage, AK
- Coordinates: 55.92012, -159.490692 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.9201&lon=-159.4907&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 1, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA FSDO-03
- NTSB case key (mKey): 82152
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12CA005
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82152/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82152
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA005

## Probable cause

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; 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)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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 during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was landing at a gravel pit when the airplane collided with brush alongside the landing area that was taller than anticipated. The brush resulted in the airplane veering off the landing area. The right wing subsequently struck the ground, and received substantial damage.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was landing at a gravel pit when the airplane collided with brush alongside the landing area that was taller than anticipated. The brush resulted in the airplane veering off the landing area. The right wing subsequently struck the ground, and received substantial damage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N82481](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82481), registered now, S/N 18-7809145, built 1978 (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: 18-7809145
- Airframe hours: 4547
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bickman Jim W
- Registered owner: Bickman Jim W
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 10, 2011
- Departed: BCV, Birchwood, AK
- Destination: Portage, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 14, 2010; seat: front; flight hours: 4,883 total, 4,161 in this make and model, 4,883 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °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 20111022024819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111022024819A), Oct 22, 2011: Piper PA-18-150, Spencer Glacier, AK, Substantial damage. On 10/22/2011, the pilot and a passenger flew from birchwood airport (bcv) to an unimproved strip near Spencer Glacier, Alaska. He stated that he had landed on…

## Other investigations on N82481 (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 SEA81DYM04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA81DYM04), Oct 5, 1980: Piper PA-18 (N82481), Hillsboro, OR, substantial damage

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 9, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82152. 149 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 149 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357544&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.

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