# NTSB ANC81FAA26: Piper PA-18, N5976D, Kotzebue, AK, August 17, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 17, 1981
- Place: Kotzebue, AK · KOTZEBUE, AK
- Location: 66.8868° N, 162.4917° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kotzebue, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.8868&lon=-162.4917&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 9, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125142
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC81FAA26
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC81FAA26

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1822  81/8/17  NR.KOTZEBUE,AK        PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 28, 930
        TIME - 1630                    N5976D              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 863 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          KOTZEBUE,AK                 RETURN                       FIELD SITE
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH VEGETATION
        REMARKS- R WING STRUCK LOW WILLOWS DRG LNDG ON GRAVEL BAR AT HUNTING SITE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5976D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5976D-1984-07-17), registration cancelled 1984-07-17, S/N 18-5438 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18A 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (registry code 7101837) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19810817050319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810817050319A), Aug 17, 1981: Piper PA18A150, Kotzebue, AK, Substantial damage. Wing struck trees on edge of gravel bar while landing. Caused airplane to ground-loop.

## Other investigations on N5976D (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 ANC84FA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84FA042), Mar 12, 1984: Piper PA-18-150 (N5976D), Galena, AK, destroyed, 2 fatal

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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