# NTSB ANC12CA091: Piper PA-18A 150, N7863D, Talkeetna, AK, August 18, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 17, 2012, 18:30 local (Aug 18, 2012, 02:30 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.356945, -147.814727 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.3569&lon=-147.8147&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Anchorage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84776 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12CA091 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84776/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84776 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA091 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to land on a short, wet, off-airport landing site, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: wet surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/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: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/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 tundra-tire and tailwheel-equipped airplane on a short, wet off-airport site that was on the top of a small butte. He was unable to stop the airplane in the available landing area, and the airplane rolled over an embankment, coming to rest approximately 50 feet downhill in a shallow creek bed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot indicated there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot was landing a tundra-tire and tailwheel-equipped airplane on a short, wet off-airport site that is on the top of a small butte. He was unable to stop the airplane in the available landing area, and the airplane rolled over an embankment, coming to rest approximately 50 feet downhill in a shallow creek bed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot indicated there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A completed copy of NTSB Form 6120.1, Pilot/Operator Accident Report, was not submitted by the pilot as requested. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7863D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7863D), registered now, S/N 18-6012 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-6012 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Talkeetna, AK - Destination: Talkeetna, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: front; flight hours: 1,000 total, 100 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: PATK, 50 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 20120817018099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120817018099A), Aug 17, 2012: Piper PA-18A 150, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. PIC was conducting off-airport landings and stated that initial part of the landing surface was dry and braking action was good, but towards the end it was… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 27, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84776. 62 KB in all. - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379633&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.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.