# NTSB ANC12CA052: Piper PA-18, N1203A, Willow, AK, June 16, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 16, 2012, 05:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Willow, AK
- Coordinates: 61.7, -150.316665 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7000&lon=-150.3167&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 4, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 84024
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12CA052
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84024/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84024
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA052

## Probable cause

The pilot's decision to land on an unsuitable landing surface into bright sunlight, which resulted in a loss of control.

## Findings

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

- [Light condition: bright light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [All aircraft, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036010/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane on a rough and uneven, off-airport site into bright sunlight. Upon landing, the airplane bounced, the pilot lost control, and the airplane impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. The pilot indicated there were no preaccident anomalies with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane on a rough and uneven, off-airport site, in bright sunlight. Upon landing he bounced, lost control, and impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. The pilot indicated there were no preaccident anomalies with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1203A (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-811
- Airframe hours: 5109
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290 SERIES 140 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2011
- Departed: LHD, Anchorage, AK
- Destination: Willow, AK
- Flight plan: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 82; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 14, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 15,000 total, 10,000 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 50 statute miles

## 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 20120616012699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120616012699A), Jun 16, 2012: Piper PA-18, Willow, AK, Substantial damage. On 6/16/2012, the Alaska regional operations center received a report from the Alaska state troopers of a Piper PA-18 airplane that was found significantly…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 27, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84024. 782 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 782 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372837&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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