# NTSB ANC23LA039: Piper PA-18-150, N4488Z, Fairbanks, AK, May 29, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 29, 2023, 08:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Coordinates: 64.8128, -147.9207 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8128&lon=-147.9207&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: 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: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192272
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC23LA039
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192272/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192272
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA039

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing with a quartering tailwind, which resulted in a water 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 (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: 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)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-aborted after touchdown: 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)
- [Other: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during approach in a float-equipped airplane, she encountered a strong gust of wind and the airspeed decreased, so she increased engine power. Before touchdown, she felt the airspeed was too fast, she selected full flaps and reduced engine power. The airplane veered left, and the pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder and increased engine power; however, the airplane water looped to the left and impacted a riverbank, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot landed the airplane with a right quartering tailwind. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4488Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4488Z), registered now, S/N 18-8843, built 1969 (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: 18-8843
- Year built: 1969
- Airframe hours: 5351.1
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 B2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Registered owner: Alaska Tailwheel LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 19, 2023, 68.5 hours before
- Departed: FAI, Fairbanks, AK
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 2Z5, Chena River Seaplane Base, runway 090, 3,000 × 300 ft, water
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 4, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,960.9 total, 34.5 in this make and model, 1,441.1 as pilot in command, 4.4 in the last 90 days, 4.4 in the last 30 days, 0.7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft broken
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.49 inHg
- Turbulence: Light
- Observed at: PAFA, 1 nm away
- METAR: PAFA 291653Z 23010KT 4SM -RA BR BKN012 OVC019 09/07 A2949 RMK AO2 SLP993 P0000 T00890067 $

## 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 20230529005879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230529005879A), May 29, 2023: Piper PA-18-150, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. When landing on the Chena River on floats, wind conditions were gusty with a right quartering tailwind. Pilot lost control of the aircraft resulting in the…

## Other investigations on N4488Z (1)

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.

- [NTSB DEN92LA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN92LA003), Oct 13, 1991: Piper PA-18-150 (N4488Z), Telluride, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT FLYING THE AIRCRAFT AT A HEIGHT ABOVE GROUND LEVEL WHICH WAS INADEQUATE FOR RECOVERY FROM AN ENCOUNTER WITH DOWN DRAFTS. A FACTOR WAS: DOWN DRAFT ENCOUNTER.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 20, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192272. 25.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 24.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16221789&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA039%206120-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15677210&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA039%20Photographs-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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