# NTSB ANC24LA061: Piper PA-18-150, N243AK, Koliganek, AK, July 9, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 8, 2024, 20:10 local (Jul 9, 2024, 04:10 UTC) - Place: Koliganek, AK - Coordinates: 59.726833, -157.26033 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.7268&lon=-157.2603&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - 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): 194659 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC24LA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194659/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194659 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA061 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare and an improper recovery from a bounced landing, resulting in a loss of directional control, and a subsequent nose over. ## 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) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 83 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was practicing off-airport takeoffs and landings in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot selected a landing site located on a ridgeline and assessed the ridge and wind conditions prior to attempting to land. On his first landing attempt he landed long and aborted the landing to set up for another attempt. On the second landing, the pilot landed long again, but did not initially attempt a go around. During the landing roll, the airplane bounced about 15 ft in the air, and then the pilot applied full power to abort the landing; however, the airplane was too slow, and the pilot lost directional control. The airplane subsequently struck the ground in a nose low, left wing low attitude, resulting in a nose over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N243AK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N243AK), registered now, S/N 1809010, built 1989 (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: 1809010 - Year built: 1989 - Airframe hours: 5645 - Engines: Lycoming 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 2, 2023, 25 hours before - Departed: PAJZ, Koliganek, AK - Destination: PADL, Dillingham, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: JZZ - Equipment: Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, waiver time limited special; last flight review May 31, 2024; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 5,107 total, 300 in this make and model, 5,107 as pilot in command, 184 in the last 90 days, 96 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: AJZ - METAR: PAJZ 081656Z AUTO 17006KT 7SM CLR 12/09 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP177 T01220094 $ ## 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 20240708008169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240708008169A), Jul 8, 2024: Piper PA-18-150, AK, Substantial damage. After several successful landings of this type and an aborted one before this incident, the pilot and friend were searching for wildlife and observing the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 8, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194659. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17378284&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC24LA061%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 443 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18535536&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%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. --- 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.