- Date
- September 4, 2014, 21:10 local (Sep 5, 2014, 05:10 UTC)
- Place
- Fairbanks, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2158APiper PA 18-135
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- Fairbanks FSDO - 01
- FAA report
- 20140904016619A
- Case key
- 90024
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inability to maintain directional control of the airplane resulting in a runway excursion and collision with terrain.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot was returning from a cross-country flight in a tail wheel equipped airplane. He reported a slight headwind and a stable approach until flare, then a crosswind lifted the left wing and the aircraft began exiting the runway environment. Attempts to regain directional control with rudder, aileron, and power were ineffective resulting in a collision with trees. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot was returning from a cross-country flight in a tail wheel equipped airplane. He reported a slight headwind and a stable approach until flare, then a crosswind lifted the left wing and the aircraft began exiting the runway environment. Attempts to regain directional control with rudder, aileron, and power were ineffective resulting in a collision with trees. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2158A
- Reported as
- Piper PA 18-135 (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-1873
- Built
- 1953
- Airframe hours
- 2,940
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A2B, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 21, 2013
- Departed
- Fairbanks, AK
- Destination
- AK22 · Fairbanks, AK
- Airport
- AK22 · Lakloey Air Park, runway 06, 4,000 × 50 ft, gravel
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 43
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 5, 2013
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 397 total · 305 in this make and model · 313 as pilot in command · 42 in the last 90 days · 24 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 10° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.92 inHg
- Observed at
- PAFB, 3 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 25, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 836 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.