# NTSB ANC12CA069: Piper PA-18-150, N623JE, Skwentna, AK, July 6, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 6, 2012, 12:40 local (20:40 UTC)
- Place: Skwentna, AK
- Coordinates: 61.650554, -151.315277 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6506&lon=-151.3153&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 Anchorage FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 84252
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12CA069
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84252/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84252
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA069

## Probable cause

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable off-airport landing site, which resulted in a loss of control during the landing roll.

## Findings

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

- [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/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 with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); 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 his tailwheel-equipped airplane at an off-airport site when the left main landing gear hit a hole and the airplane ground looped, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with airplane.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was landing his tailwheel-equipped airplane at an off-airport site when the left main landing gear hit a hole, and the airplane ground looped, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot said there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with airplane. The pilot provided a written statement of events, but did not fill out the National Transportation Safety Board Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N623JE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N623JE), registered now, S/N 18-8272, built 1965 (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: 18-8272
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Anchorage, AK
- Destination: Skwentna, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 3,500 total, 1,700 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observed at: PATK, 37 nm away

## 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 20120706013389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120706013389A), Jul 6, 2012: Piper PA-18-150, Skwentna, AK, Substantial damage. The PIC overflew a gravel bar on the talchulitna river with the intent on landing to fish. The bar looked good and he landed. On his roll out he ventured too…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 22, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84252. 63 KB in all.

- Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375720&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-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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