# NTSB ANC83LA003: Piper PA-18, N54247, Near King Salmo, AK, October 4, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 4, 1982, 08:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Near King Salmo, AK
- Coordinates: 58.749801, -156.540725 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.7498&lon=-156.5407&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 4, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71879
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC83LA003
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71879/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83LA003

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Main gear collapsed, takeoff - initial climb
  - landing gear,main gear - failure,total
  - landing gear,main gear - overload
  - landing gear,main gear - separation

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE BEGAN TAKING OFF WITH A RIGHT QUARTERING HEADWIND. AS THE PLANE LIFTED OFF, A GUST OF WIND WAS ENCOUNTERED AND THE AIRCRAFT MOVED SIDEWARD AND DOWN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR CONTACTED THE GROUND AND SEPARATED. THE NOSE THEN STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED AND FLIPPED OVER. A SMALL FIRE ERUPTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, BUT THE PILOT EXTINGUISHED IT WITH THE AIRCRAFT'S FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N54247](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N54247), registered now, S/N 18-7609049, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- 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: 18-7609049
- Airframe hours: 800
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Judy A. And Curtis C. Classen
- Registered owner: Judy A. And Curtis C. Classen
- Departed: NEAR KING SALMO, AK
- Destination: AKN, KING SALMON, AK
- Flight plan: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 7,100 total, 4,000 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Temperature: 97 °F
- Observed at: AKN, 50 nm away

## 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 19821004051579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821004051579A), Oct 4, 1982: Piper PA18150, King Salmon, AK, Destroyed. Caught in a crosswind and down drift on liftoff. Struck ground on a downslope off side of runway and flipped over.

## Other investigations on N54247 (2)

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 ANC98LA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA072), Jun 14, 1998: Piper PA-18-160 (N54247), Nikiski, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's use of excessive brake application during landing roll.
- [NTSB ANC81DAA35](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC81DAA35), Sep 14, 1981: Piper PA-18 (N54247), Hodzona River, AK, substantial damage

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.