# NTSB ANC86LA138: Piper PA-18, N5582C, Dry Creek, AK, August 27, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 27, 1986, 10:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Dry Creek, AK
- Location: 63.6533° N, 144.6653° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Dry Creek, AK, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.6533&lon=-144.6653&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (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): 4724
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC86LA138
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4724/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC86LA138

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - wind information - not identified, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft handling - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, approach
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD ADEQUATE CLEARANCE OVER THE TREES DURING THE APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT JUST SEEMED TO STALL MUSH INTO THE TREE TOPS. THE AIRCRAFT'S AIRSPEED WAS BELOW STALL SPEED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5582C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5582C), registered now, S/N 18-8473 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 188473
- Airframe hours: 5554
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91
- Registered owner: Alaska Dept Of Public Safety
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 1, 1986, 25 hours before
- Departed: FAI, FAIRBANKS, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 2,320 total, 2,166 in this make and model, 1,352 as pilot in command, 107 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## Other investigations on N5582C (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 ANC97TA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97TA096), Jul 2, 1997: Piper PA-18 (N5582C), Nenana, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane, which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop and a collapsed main landing gear. His lack of experience in tailwheel airplanes was…

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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