- Date
- September 13, 2014, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Aniak, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N9877DPiper PA 18-150
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Abnormal runway contact
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 5, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 20140913017389A
- Case key
- 90070
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 NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot's inability to maintain directional control of the airplane resulting in a separation of the wheel axle, resulting in a collision with terrain.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings.
Analysis
The pilot was landing in a tailwheel-equipped airplane at a remote, rough and uneven off-airport site, which required a correction for a 15 to 20 mph left crosswind. He stated that during the landing roll the wind pushed the airplane to the left, which resulted in a side load on the main landing gear, and the right main landing gear wheel axle separated. The right wing subsequently struck the ground, sustaining substantial damage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot was landing in a tailwheel-equipped airplane at a remote, rough and uneven off-airport site, which required a correction for a 15 to 20 mph left crosswind. He stated that during the landing roll the wind pushed the airplane to the left, which resulted in a side load on the main landing gear, and the right main landing gear wheel axle separated. The right wing subsequently struck the ground, sustaining substantial damage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9877D
- Reported as
- Piper PA 18-150 (A150)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-6899
- Built
- 1957
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Operator
- Adams Bob L, doing business as Adams Guiding Service
- Registered owner
- Adams Bob L
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- NA · Aniak, AK
- Destination
- NA · Aniak, AK
- Airport
- NA · None, runway UNK, 500 × 30 ft, grass/turf
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
- 59
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Private, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 4, 2014
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 14,000 total · 180 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.40 inHg
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 24, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.0 MB 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.
Other investigations on N9877D · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.