# NTSB ANC21LA088: Piper PA-18-150, N7MY, Talkeetna, AK, September 11, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 10, 2021, 16:15 local (Sep 11, 2021, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.537216, -149.64694 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.5372&lon=-149.6469&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - 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 - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 103883 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC21LA088 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103883/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103883 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA088 ## Probable cause The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control and nose over. ## 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) - [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: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md) - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); 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: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); 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 of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that prior to landing at an off-airport, rocky and tundra covered, uphill slope landing site, he made several passes over the area looking for hazards and “dragged” the wheels to test the landing surface. During the landing, the airplane touched down slightly past the “ideal spot”, he applied the brakes, but the airplane did not slow as much has he had expected. As the airplane reached the top of the knoll and started down the other side it began to weathervane to the right. He applied the brakes to avoid rocks and the airplane encountered a large hole that he had “not seen from the air.” Subsequently, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted sustaining substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that the accident may have been avoided if he had selected a more suitable landing site. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7MY](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7MY), registered now, S/N 18-7242, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-7242 - Year built: 1959 - Airframe hours: 5779.5 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Paris Enterprises LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2021 - Departed: TKA, Talkeetna, AK - Destination: Same as departure - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 17, 2021; seat: front; flight hours: 5,500 total, 330 in this make and model, 180 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.58 inHg - Observed at: PATK, 18 nm away - METAR: PATK 102353Z 22003KT 10SM OVC070 12/09 A2958 ## 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 20210910022399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210910022399A), Sep 10, 2021: Piper PA-18-150, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. PIC attempted to make an off airport landing in the Talkeetna mountains. The PIC landed a little past his intended touchdown spot. The aircraft slowed down,… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 18, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103883. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12766952&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident pictures (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 454 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12767078&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Pictures-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.