# NTSB ANC20CA048: Piper PA18, N323DH, Skwentna, AK, May 16, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 15, 2020, 16:25 local (May 16, 2020, 00:25 UTC)
- Place: Skwentna, AK
- Coordinates: 61.96611, -151.19528
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.9661&lon=-151.1953&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101285
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC20CA048
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101285/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101285
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA048

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [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)
- [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)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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)

## Analysis

The pilot was landing the tailwheel and tundra tire-equipped airplane on a gravel surfaced runway. After touchdown, the airplane veered right and the pilot applied left rudder and left brake, but the airplane continued and ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left elevator and left wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the accident may have been prevented if she had been more proficient in the accident airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N323DH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N323DH), registered now, S/N 18-7939, built 1963 (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: 18-7939
- Year built: 1963
- Airframe hours: 4441
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 27, 2020
- Departed: BCV, Birchwood, AK
- Destination: SKW, Skwentna, AK
- Airport: SKW, Skwentna, runway 10, 3,400 × 75 ft, gravel
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; private, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 30, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,848.5 total, 12.6 in this make and model, 248.6 as pilot in command, 46.2 in the last 90 days, 12.6 in the last 30 days, 3.2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg

## 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 20200515000919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200515000919A), May 15, 2020: Piper PA-18-150, Skwentna, AK, Substantial damage. Aircraft ground looped after touchdown.

## Other investigations on N323DH (1)

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 ANC15CA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15CA054), Jul 22, 2015: Piper PA 18-150 (N323DH), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and improper recovery from a bounced landing resulting in a loss of control and collision with terrain.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 5, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101285. 660 KB in all.

- Photos (item 1, .PDF, 660 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485892&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.