# NTSB ANC84LA136: Piper PA-18, N194JL, Nabesna Glacier, AK, August 14, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 13, 1984, 16:00 local (Aug 14, 1984, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Nabesna Glacier, AK
- Coordinates: 63.00037, -141.69075 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.0004&lon=-141.6908&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4338
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC84LA136
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4338/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84LA136

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose over, landing - roll
  - weather condition - downdraft
  - altitude - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - soft
  - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PLT, DUE TO OBSTACLES AND DOWNDRAFTS A HIGHER THAN NORMAL APPROACH WAS FLOWN TO THE UNIMPROVED GRAVEL AND SAND LANDING AREA. TOUCHDOWN WAS LONG AND HEAVY BRAKING WAS APPLIED. AS THE ACFT ROLLED INTO A SANDY AREA AND NOSED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N194JL (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-8334
- Airframe hours: 4164
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Thomas Kent Besh
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 4, 1984, 21 hours before
- Departed: AK21, DEVIL MOUNTAIN, AK
- Destination: NABESNA GLACIER, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 430 total, 118 in this make and model, 312 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °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 19840813044619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840813044619A), Aug 13, 1984: Piper PA18150, Nebesna, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot landed on gravel strip, rolled onto a portion of strip of soft sand, causing aircraft to nose over.

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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