# NTSB ANC23LA083: Piper PA-18-150, N1755P, McGrath, AK, September 16, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 15, 2023, 18:30 local (Sep 16, 2023, 02:30 UTC)
- Place: McGrath, AK
- Coordinates: 62.946312, -155.52845 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.9463&lon=-155.5284&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: 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: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193106
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC23LA083
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193106/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193106
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA083

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during after encountering a wind gust during landing that resulted in an 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-18-150, 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; 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: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: 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)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, while landing at a remote, off-airport site, a gust of wind pushed the airplane into a stand of trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and right wing lift strut. He stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not provide an NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1755P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1755P), registered now, S/N 18-4075 (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: 18-4075
- Year built: 1957
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: Same as departure
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 995 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.34 inHg
- Observed at: AMC, 2 nm away
- METAR: PAMC 152353Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 12/04 A2934 RMK AO2 SLP941 T01220044 10122 20050 58007

## 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 20230915015129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230915015129A), Sep 15, 2023: Piper PA-18-150, Mcgrath, AK, Substantial damage. On September 15, 2023, around 6:30 pm local Alaska time, a Piper PA-18 aircraft with registration [privacy data omitted]attempted to land on a gravel strip…

## Other investigations on N1755P (6)

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 ANC05CA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA146), Sep 12, 2005: Piper PA-18 (N1755P), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in a collision with a tree. A factor contributing to the accident was a tailwind.
- [NTSB ANC04LA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA039), Apr 11, 2004: Piper PA-18-150 (N1755P), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in the airplane entering deep snow alongside the runway, and nosing over.
- [NTSB ANC00LA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA094), Jul 25, 2000: Piper PA-18 (N1755P), Cordova, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's excessive application of the airplane's brakes.
- [NTSB ANC77DAG14](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC77DAG14), Nov 5, 1976: Piper PA-18 (N1755P), Mccarthy, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB ANC72DAG59](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC72DAG59), Sep 20, 1971: Piper PA-18 (N1755P), Chitina, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB ANC69D0075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC69D0075), Oct 5, 1968: Piper PA-18 (N1755P), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 28, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193106. 352 KB in all.

- Mor - pilot statement (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16812879&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20-%20Pilot-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 289 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16818813&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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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