# NTSB ANC12CA062: Piper PA-18A 150, N8889D, Illiamna, AK, July 3, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 3, 2012, 00:30 local (08:30 UTC) - Place: Illiamna, AK - Coordinates: 59.755554, -154.91777 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.7556&lon=-154.9178&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 84202 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12CA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84202/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84202 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA062 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a loss of control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [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-18A 150, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: [Piper PA-18A 150, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101837), [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: [Piper PA-18A 150, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane on a lighted, paved, dry runway at dusk, when he inadvertently bounced the airplane during initial touchdown. He applied remedial control inputs, but he overcorrected, and, upon touching down again, the airplane swerved to the right. He added engine power to abort the landing, but the airplane ground looped to the right and hit a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left elevator. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane on a lighted, paved, dry runway, at dusk, when he inadvertently bounced during initial touchdown. He applied remedial control inputs, but he overcorrected, and upon touching down again, the airplane swerved to the right. He added engine power to abort the landing, but the airplane ground looped to the right, and hit a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left elevator. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8889D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8889D), registered now, S/N 18-6358 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18A 150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18A 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (registry code 7101837) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-6358 - Airframe hours: 3900 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 6, 2012 - Departed: PAIG, Igiugig, AK - Destination: PAIL, Illiamna, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: PAIL, Iliamna, runway 07, 5,086 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 31, 2012; seat: front; flight hours: 664 total, 51 in this make and model, 480 as pilot in command, 101 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 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 20120703013329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120703013329A), Jul 3, 2012: Piper PA-18A 150, Iliamna, AK, Substantial damage. Airman stated that he came down hard on landing, bounced, weaved, and as a result, ground looped striking left wing tip, resulting in wing tip damage and… ## Other investigations on N8889D (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 ANC74DAH18](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC74DAH18), Jun 27, 1974: Piper PA-18 (N8889D), King Salmon, AK, destroyed - [NTSB ANC74DAG50](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC74DAG50), Sep 3, 1973: Piper PA-18 (N8889D), Mcgrath, AK, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 8, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84202. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374498&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.