# NTSB ANC83LA079: Piper PA-18-150, N2797P, Anchorage, AK, May 23, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 23, 1983, 08:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.17937, -149.879714 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1794&lon=-149.8797&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4117
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC83LA079
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4117/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83LA079

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in kind of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - water,glassy

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT HE WAS LANDING ON THE LAKE WITH ONE NOTCH OF FLAPS INDICATING 50-55 MPH. THE TOUCHDOWN WAS SMOOTH AND AFTER PLANING FOR 3-4 SECONDS THE ACFT VEERED LEFT. HE CORRECTED TO THE RIGHT AND THE ACFT STRAIGHTENED THEN SUDDENLY VEERED RIGHT, SUBMERGING THE RIGHT FLOAT TIP AND INVERTING THE ACFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2797P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2797P-2011-11-23), registration cancelled 2011-11-23, S/N 18-4432, built 1955 (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: 18-4432
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Larry Alan Wright
- Registered owner: Thomas J. Stapleton
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: JUNEAU LAKE, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: Cambell Lake

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: center; flight hours: 421 total, 6 in this make and model, 346 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 55 °F

## 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 19830523020659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830523020659A), May 23, 1983: Piper PA18150, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Aircraft bounced on landing coming down second time on right float which dug into water causing airplane to invert.

## Other investigations on N2797P (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 ANC84LA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84LA006), Oct 10, 1983: Piper PA-18-150 (N2797P), Kodiak, 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.