# NTSB ANC18CA068: Piper PA18, N5392Y, Wasilla, AK, August 25, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 25, 2018, 14:10 local (22:10 UTC) - Place: Wasilla, AK - Coordinates: 61.657501, -149.459716 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6575&lon=-149.4597&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 98189 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC18CA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98189/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98189 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18CA068 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll when the left main landing gear wheel got caught in a ditch, which resulted in a subsequent nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 98 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: 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) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); 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-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 83 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the landing roll on a private grass airstrip, the left main landing gear wheel became caught in the ditch that was obscured by long grass along the edge of the runway. He subsequently lost directional control, and the airplane rolled into the ditch and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during the landing roll at a private grass airstrip in his tailwheel-equipped airplane, the left main landing gear wheel descended into a ditch that was obscured in long grass along the edge of the runway. He subsequently lost directional control, and the airplane veered left into the ditch and nosed over, causing substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5392Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5392Y), registered now, S/N 18-8145, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA18 (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: 18-8145 - Year built: 1964 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: BCV, Birchwood, AK - Destination: BCV, Birchwood, AK - Airport: 5AK5, Todds Strip, runway 07, 1,500 × 60 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 6,400 total, 6,100 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: PAWS, 6 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 20180825022299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180825022299A), Aug 25, 2018: Piper PA-18-150, Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. At approximately 2:30 AKDT, a PA-18-150 landing at Troy airstrip in Wasilla, sustained substantial damage due to loss of control which resulted in the aircraft… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 28, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98189. 10.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483989&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483990&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483991&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.