# NTSB ANC22LA074: Piper PA-18-135, N1129, Palmer, AK, August 30, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 29, 2022, 18:30 local (Aug 30, 2022, 02:30 UTC)
- Place: Palmer, AK
- Coordinates: 61.314836, -148.57966
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.3148&lon=-148.5797&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: 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: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105910
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC22LA074
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105910/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105910
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA074

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop 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; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101820), [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-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during the landing roll on a remote gravel bar, the airplane veered to the right. He applied left rudder but was unable to correct and the airplane ground looped to the right, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing, left aileron and elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1129](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1129), registered now, S/N 18-4022, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-135
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-135) (registry code 7101820) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-4022
- Year built: 1954
- Airframe hours: 4390
- Engines: LYCOMING O- 320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: John Houghton
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 9, 2022, 30 hours before
- Departed: PAWS, Wasilla, AK
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 13, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 100 total, 39 in this make and model, 29 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.53 inHg
- Observed at: PAAQ, 22 nm away
- METAR: PAAQ 300253Z AUTO 18003KT 10SM CLR 18/09 A2953 RMK AO2 SLP001 T01780089 53006 TSNO

## 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 20220829015269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220829015269A), Aug 29, 2022: Piper PA-18-135, Knik Glacier, AK, Substantial damage. On August 29, 2022, about 1830 local time, PIC stated he was flying near Knik Glacier, AK, where he observed the area prior to landing. He attempted to make a…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 11, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105910. 3.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14574270&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC22LA074%20N2911%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 521 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14573132&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20ANC22LA074-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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