# NTSB ANC12LA097: Piper PA-18-150, N82016, Coldfoot, AK, September 2, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 2, 2012, 10:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Coldfoot, AK - Coordinates: 68.133888, -149.47528 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=68.1339&lon=-149.4753&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO-01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 84899 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12LA097 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84899/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84899 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12LA097 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering to reverse course. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 156 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: obscuration](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035030/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was on a personal cross-country flight through a mountain pass. He later reported that upon reaching the pass, the terrain elevation was climbing faster than his airplane, and the weather in the pass was worse than expected. He then decided to turn the airplane around and exit the pass the way he had come. As he made the turn, the terrain continued to rise and it was apparent he wasn't going to make the turn, so he stalled the airplane while trying to out climb terrain. The airplane subsequently impacted terrain, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot said there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On September 2, 2012, about 1030 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N82016, sustained substantial damage about 63 miles northeast of Coldfoot, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal cross-country flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91, when the accident occurred. The pilot, the sole occupant, received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Deadhorse, Alaska, about 1130, bound for Homer, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on September 12, the pilot said he received a weather briefing prior to departing Deadhorse. He said the weather was basic VFR, and that he was going to fly a new route (for him) southbound through Atigun Pass. Upon reaching the pass he said the terrain elevation was climbing faster than his airplane, and the weather in the pass was worse than expected. He decided to turn the airplane around in the pass, and exit the pass the way he had come. As he made the turn, it was apparent he wasn't going to make the turn successfully. He stalled the airplane, and impacted terrain. The pilot said there were no mechanical problems with the airplane, and that he should have decided to turn back earlier. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N82016](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82016), registered now, S/N 18-7909052, built 1979 (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: 18-7909052 - Airframe hours: 3030 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Parsons Charlie C - Registered owner: Parsons Charlie C - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 7, 2012 - Departed: PASC, Deadhorse, AK - Destination: PABT, BETTLES, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 16, 2012; seat: front; flight hours: 2,053 total, 920 in this make and model, 996 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 12 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast ## 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 20120902019829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120902019829A), Sep 2, 2012: Piper PA-18-150, Deadhorse, AK, Substantial damage. Accident occured 1234 LCL time. Wx at scc @1153LCL was pasc 021953Z 06016KTS10SM OVC023 06/03 A2978 rmk A02 SLP085 T00560028NOTE: accident occured about 100 sm… ## Other investigations on N82016 (3) 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 CEN26LA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA020), Oct 15, 2025: Piper PA18 (N82016), Reserve, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadvertent application of the wheel brakes after touchdown. - [NTSB LAX82DA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82DA157), May 1, 1982: Piper PA-18-150 (N82016), Chandler, AZ, substantial damage - [NTSB LAX80FUJ90](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FUJ90), Aug 6, 1980: Piper PA-18 (N82016), Mesa, AZ, substantial damage ## 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=84899. 728 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 728 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379757&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.