# NTSB ANC22LA036: Piper PA-18-150, N5773M, Gulkana, AK, May 28, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 28, 2022, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Gulkana, AK
- Coordinates: 62.205568, -145.44536
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.2056&lon=-145.4454&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: 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 Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105144
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC22LA036
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105144/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105144
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA036

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional during the landing rollout in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with terrain.

## 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)
- [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 · Response/compensation (probable cause); 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)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); 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)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, after a normal approach and touchdown on the centerline of the runway in crosswind conditions the airplane veered to the left. He attempted to correct for the veer with right brake and rudder control to no avail. The airplane exited the runway and impacted terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, right wing, and right aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5773M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5773M), registered now, S/N 18-7509082, 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: 18-7509082
- Year built: 1975
- Airframe hours: 6700.2
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Hulslander Taylor
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 20, 2022
- Departed: North Pole, AK
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: GKN, Gulkana, runway 33L, 2,300 × 60 ft, gravel
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 29, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 885 total, 15 in this make and model, 885 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observed at: PAZK, 51 nm away
- METAR: PAZK 281956Z AUTO 06007KT 010V100 10SM CLR 14/M04 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP152 T01391039

## 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 20220528008769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220528008769A), May 28, 2022: Piper PA-18-150, Gulkana, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot stated he was repositioning newly purchased super cub and landed at Gulkana for fuel. Winds were a crosswind from the left, gusting over 20 knots; pilot…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105144. 4.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14056950&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 732 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14055957&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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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