# NTSB ANC85LA011: Piper PA-18, N4361A, Skwentna, AK, October 22, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 22, 1984, 10:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Skwentna, AK
- Coordinates: 61.930744, -151.729705 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.9307&lon=-151.7297&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): 4441
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC85LA011
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4441/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85LA011

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - inadequate (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PLT, WHEN HE ARRIVED AT THE GRAVEL BAR THE PASSENGERS TO BE PICKED UP WERE NOT THERE & COULD NOT BE LOCATED FROM THE AIR. AFTER MAKING LOW PASSES OVER THE GRAVEL BAR HE DETERMINED THAT THE SNOW DID NOT LOOK DEEP AND TOUCHED DOWN TO CHECK THE SNOW CONDITION. THE SNOW WAS TOO DEEP, THE WHEELS DUG IN & THE ACFT NOSED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4361A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4361A), registered now, S/N 18-4820, built 1956 (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: 18-4820
- Airframe hours: 3804
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Rust'S Flying Service Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 30, 1983, 34 hours before
- Departed: ANC, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 9,381 total, 1,103 in this make and model, 9,200 as pilot in command, 285 in the last 90 days, 150 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 10 °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 19841022057669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841022057669A), Oct 22, 1984: Piper PA18150, Skwentna, AK, Substantial damage. Lightly dragging the snow covered sand bar in preparation for landing. Snow too deep and wet, nosed 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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