# NTSB ANC21LA098: Piper PA-18-150, N9724P, Willow, AK, September 29, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 29, 2021, 10:25 local (18:25 UTC)
- Place: Willow, AK
- Coordinates: 61.746951, -150.06163 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7470&lon=-150.0616&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- 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 Flight Standards
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104026
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC21LA098
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104026/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104026
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA098

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance to terrain following a go-around.

## 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)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); 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 reported completing numerous overflights of the intended off-airport landing area. He was executing a touch and go to be sure the terrain was not too rough. He touched down at his intended spot, but the airspeed was higher than anticipated and he applied full throttle to initiate a go-around. The airplane became airborne, but the landing gear did not clear a hill beyond the intended landing area. The airplane nosed over before coming to a rest with damage to the right-wing strut and the rudder. The pilot reported there were no failures or malfunctions related to the airplane before the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9724P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9724P), registered now, S/N 18-7609003, built 1975 (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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-7609003
- Year built: 1975
- Airframe hours: 9446
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 17, 2020, 80 hours before
- Departed: 6AK7, Wasilla, AK
- Destination: PAUO, Willow, AK
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 9, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 13,429 total, 959 in this make and model, 58 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 0° at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 29.54 inHg
- Observed at: PAWS, 18 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 20210929016869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210929016869A), Sep 29, 2021: Piper PA-18-150, Willow, AK, Substantial damage. During an Off Airport landing attempt, after aerial assessment of the landing area, when the pilot touched down at his intended touchdown point while landing…

## 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=104026. 16.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 16.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12804926&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Rpt%20--%20ANC21LA098_redacted-Rel.pdf
- Airplane photos (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 387 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12804546&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20--%20ANC21LA098-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.

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