# NTSB ANC20CA080: Piper PA 18, N1277A, Fairbanks, AK, July 27, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 26, 2020, 19:00 local (Jul 27, 2020, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 64.8378, -147.7164 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8378&lon=-147.7164&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration - NTSB case key (mKey): 101784 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC20CA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101784/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101784 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA080 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper decision to depart from an off-airport surface that had standing water, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: wet surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md) - [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, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll on an off-airport grass strip, as the airplane reached flying speed, it encountered a puddle of water which was hidden in grass and the pilot lost control of the airplane, which resulted in an impact with tundra tussocks and a main landing gear collapse. The fuselage and left lift strut sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He also reported that the accident could have been prevented had he performed a better walk down of the grass strip. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1277A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1277A), registered now, S/N 18-1072, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA 18 (125) - Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-1072 - Year built: 1951 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 27, 2019 - Departed: PAFA, Fairbanks, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 262 total, 120 in this make and model, 262 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft broken - Temperature: 67 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 2965.00 inHg - Observed at: PAFA ## 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 20200726009779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200726009779A), Jul 26, 2020: Piper PA-18, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot stated that on July 26, 2020 near gold king creek, Fairbanks AK (AK7), he landed his PA-18 N1277A s/n 18-1072 on an unimproved off airport grass… ## Other investigations on N1277A (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 SEA02LA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA160), Aug 19, 2002: Piper PA-18 (N1277A), Newberg, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: A warped right brake disc resulting in a veer to the right during the landing roll, and the aircraft's subsequent collision with a fence. A contributing factor was the fence. - [NTSB MKC68F0140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC68F0140), Jun 28, 1967: Piper PA-18 (N1277A), Alliance, NE, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 8, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101784. 8.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 7.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11711825&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20master%20ANC20CA080%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photographs (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11715586&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC20CA088%20Photo%20Template%202-Rel.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.