- Date
- May 29, 2012, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Anchorage, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N3772ZPiper PA-18-150
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 9, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20120529011229A
- Case key
- 83796
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 failure to maintain directional control while landing in a gusting crosswind.
Findings · 4
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 was on final approach to runway 4, when just prior to touchdown, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the left. The left wingtip hit trees and brush, and the airplane turned left with the right wing and right elevator contacting the ground. Wind was estimated from 100 degrees at 10 to 15 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and right elevator. The pilot indicated there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Factual narrative
The pilot was on final approach to runway 04, when just prior to touchdown, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the left. The left wingtip hit trees and brush, and the airplane turned left with the right wing and right elevator contacting the ground. Wind was estimated from 100 degrees at 10 to 15 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and right elevator. The pilot indicated there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3772Z
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-7451
- Airframe hours
- 5,244
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235 SERIES, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 6, 2012
- Departed
- PAMR · Anchorage, AK
- Destination
- Anchorage, AK
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- runway 04, 900 × 100 ft, grass/turf
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
- 72
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 19, 2011
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 4,957 total · 3,465 in this make and model · 19 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 55 °F
- Observed at
- ENA, 20 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 27, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.8 MB 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.