# NTSB ANC22LA029: Piper PA-18-150, N135ES, Beluga, AK, April 12, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 11, 2022, 18:45 local (Apr 12, 2022, 02:45 UTC)
- Place: Beluga, AK · Mount Torbert
- Coordinates: 61.4135, -151.9883 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4135&lon=-151.9883&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380)
- 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): 104947
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC22LA029
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104947/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104947
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA029

## Probable cause

The pilot’s excessive touchdown speed, which resulted in a long landing and impact with terrain.

## 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)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation; 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) (defining event); 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-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)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); 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 reported that while landing off-airport on snow-covered mountainous terrain, the ski-equipped airplane touched down fast, and he was unable to make a left turn prior to the airplane impacting a “gully”. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the opposite side of the gully, both landing gear collapsed, and the left wing impacted the terrain and sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N135ES](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N135ES), registered now, S/N 18-8109074, built 1981 (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-360-C4P](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-c4p) (registry code 42289, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-8109074
- Year built: 1981
- Airframe hours: 1812.3
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-C4P 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, September 10, 2021
- Departed: BCV, Birchwood, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 8, 2020; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 202 total, 40 in this make and model, 150 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 30.43 inHg
- Observed at: PANC, 58 nm away
- METAR: PANC 120253Z 29004KT 10SM FEW250 06/M05 A3043 RMK AO2 SLP307 T00561050 58013

## 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 20220411005309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220411005309A), Apr 11, 2022: Piper PA-18-150, Beluga, AK, Substantial damage. On April 11, 2022 at approximately 1130 local N135ES a borrowed aircraft with an expired special airworthiness certificate departed birchwood airport Alaska…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 22, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104947. 2.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13838503&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident pictures (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 694 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13838746&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.

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