# NTSB ANC22LA016: Piper PA-18-150, N189BH, Skwenta, AK, January 28, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 28, 2022, 11:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Skwenta, AK
- Coordinates: 61.977096, -151.26242 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.9771&lon=-151.2624&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- 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: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104582
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC22LA016
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104582/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA016

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from a tree while landing.

## Findings

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

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the ski equipped airplane reported that, during landing at an off-airport landing site, the airplane drifted towards a tree. The pilot increased the throttle and attempted to lift the wing over the tree to no avail. The airplane impacted the tree sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N189BH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-7322
- Year built: 1960
- Airframe hours: 3000
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: PAGQ, Big Lake, AK
- Destination: PAGQ, Big Lake, AK
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: front; flight hours: 410 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 11 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 29.32 inHg
- Observed at: PAWS, 12 nm away
- METAR: PAWS 282056Z AUTO 07011G21KT 030V100 10SM FEW075 M01/M09 A2932 RMK AO2 SLP934 T10061094 51008 FZRANO

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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