# NTSB ANC23LA011: Piper PA-18-150, N94X, Kenai, AK, January 2, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 2, 2023, 14:57, time zone not recorded
- Place: Kenai, AK · Road
- Coordinates: 60.726361, -151.29916 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7264&lon=-151.2992&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: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 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): 106557
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC23LA011
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106557/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106557
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA011

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing in flat light conditions, resulting in the airplane to nose over.

## 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 · Capability exceeded (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)
- [Light condition: flat light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036025/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036025/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, during landing on a road in flat light conditions he drifted to the right after touching down and the right tire struck unplowed snow. The pilot was unable to correct, and the airplane continued to the right into a snow berm. Subsequently, it nosed over sustaining substantial damage to the wings, lift struts, and rudder. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N94X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N94X), registered now, S/N 18-7858, built 1962 (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: 18-7858
- Year built: 1962
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 25, 2022, 1 hours before
- Departed: ENA, Kenai, AK
- Destination: AK73, Nikiski, AK
- Airport: AK73, McGahan Industrial
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 9, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 778 total, 320 in this make and model, 750 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 32 °F
- Altimeter: 2896.00 inHg
- METAR: SA	03/01/2023 01:53->METAR PAEN 030153Z 12006KT 10SM BKN100 02/M01 A2903 RMK AO2 SLP831 T00221011=

## 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 20230102001149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230102001149A), Jan 2, 2023: Piper PA-18-150, Nikiski, AK, Substantial damage. On 02 January 2023 at approx 1457 local, a Piper aircraft model PA-18-150 with one person on board landed on nurphy st., an adjoining/perpendicular road to…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 30, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106557. 4.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14989904&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA011%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 338 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14989141&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20ANC23LA011-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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