# NTSB ANC22LA038: Piper PA-18-150, N4024Z, Glacier View, AK, May 29, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 28, 2022, 18:30 local (May 29, 2022, 02:30 UTC) - Place: Glacier View, AK · In the Matanuska River - Coordinates: 61.786851, -147.79807 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7869&lon=-147.7981&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor - 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): 105176 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC22LA038 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105176/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105176 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA038 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the landing approach, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall at an altitude too low to recover. ## 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) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while turning the airplane from a downwind to base leg to an off-airport landing site, the airplane’s left wing stalled, and the airplane began to spin. The pilot did not have sufficient altitude to recover, and the airplane descended into a river short of the intended landing area. The airplane was destroyed and was unrecoverable. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4024Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4024Z), registered now, S/N 18-7977, built 1963 (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: 18-7977 - Year built: 1963 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 15, 2021 - Departed: 58AK, wasilla, AK - Destination: Glacier View, AK - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 6, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,100 total, 500 in this make and model, 1,100 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Day - Wind: 90° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F - Turbulence: Moderate - METAR: METAR PAAQ 281853Z 18004KT 10SM CLR 18/02 A2985 RMK AO2 SLP108 T01780017 ## 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 20220528009039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220528009039A), May 28, 2022: Piper PA-18-150, Glacier View, AK, Substantial damage. On 28 may 2022, PIC with 2 passenger onboard attempted to land near the foot of the matanuska Glacier and matanuska river. [privacy data omitted]Stalled, spun… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 21, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105176. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14132046&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20ANC22la038%20glacierview%20mpw_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14132056&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC22LA038%20no%20photos%20mpw-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.