# NTSB ANC15CA002: Piper PA 18-150, N82448, Cordova, AK, October 9, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 8, 2014, 18:00 local (Oct 9, 2014, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Cordova, AK - Coordinates: 60.107498, -143.203613 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.1075&lon=-143.2036&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 5, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 90246 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC15CA002 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90246/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90246 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15CA002 ## Probable cause The pilots decision to land and failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing in gusty wind conditions. ## 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-18-150, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 160 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [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) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: 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) ## Analysis The pilot was landing at a remote, off-airport site in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. He stated it was an area he was familiar with and was aware of the approaching weather. As he was about to land he said that a heavy rain shower was developing with gusty wind conditions. Just before landing a gust picked up his right wing which lowered his left wing into brush, causing the airplane to ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left and right wing tips, and fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated in the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident Reporting Form 6120.1, that the accident could have been prevented if he had waited for the rain shower and wind conditions to decrease before landing. ## Factual narrative The pilot was landing at a remote, off-airport site in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. He stated it was an area he was familiar with and was aware of the approaching weather. As he was about to land he said that a heavy rain shower was developing with gusty wind conditions. Just before landing a gust picked up his right wing which lowered his left wing into brush, causing the airplane to ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left and right wing tips, and fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated in the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident Reporting Form 6120.1, that the accident could have been prevented if he had waited for the rain shower and wind conditions to decrease before landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N82448](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82448), registered now, S/N 18-7909099, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 18-150 (A150) - 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: 18-7909099 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 10063 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Fejes Guide Service Ltd - Registered owner: Fejes Guide Service Ltd - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 20, 2014 - Departed: Tsiu Lodge, AK - Destination: Cordova, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 15, 2013; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 27,115 total, 15,990 in this make and model, 28,021 as pilot in command, 265 in the last 90 days, 128 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 25 knots, gusting 30 - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Turbulence: Moderate - Observed at: PACY, 21 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 20141008020179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141008020179A), Oct 8, 2014: Piper PA-18-150, Yakataga, AK, Substantial damage. During an off airport landing a strong gust of wind hit the right wing which lowered the left wing into brush which caused the the aircraft to spin around and… ## Other investigations on N82448 (2) 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 ANC21LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA099), Sep 23, 2021: Piper PA-18-150 (N82448), Cordova, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane after landing in gusty wind conditions. - [NTSB ANC11CA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA089), Aug 30, 2011: Piper PA-18-150 (N82448), Cape Yakataga, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot inadvertently switching off the engine magnetos during the initial climb, resulting in a loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the manufacturer's placement of the magneto… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 24, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90246. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419382&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.