# NTSB ANC90FA051: Piper PA-18, N64RS, Chugiak, AK, April 8, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 8, 1990, 13:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place: Chugiak, AK
- Coordinates: 61.410293, -149.170684 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4103&lon=-149.1707&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 21, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5289
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC90FA051
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5289/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC90FA051

## Probable cause

THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL AS A RESULT OF IMPROPER BRAKING.

## 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
  - landing gear,tire - other (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - insufficient standards/requirements,aircraft, faa(organization) (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - brakes(normal) - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear - overload (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,major repair - improper, unknown (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE LANDING WITH A TEN KNOT CROSSWIND, THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND GROUND LOOPED. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR THEN COLLAPSED, AND THE LEFT WING HIT THE RUNWAY. HE BLAMED THE LOSS OF CONTROL ON THE UNEQUAL APPLICATION OF BRAKES. THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH 29 INCH OVER SIZED TIRES. LABORATORY EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT WELDS ON THE LANDING GEAR FAILED PREMATURELY AS A RESULT OF OVERSTRESS AND IMPROPER WELDING TECHNIQUES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N64RS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N64RS-1997-03-25), registration cancelled 1997-03-25, S/N 186078 (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: 18-6078
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: John M. Edwards
- Registered owner: John M Edwards
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Z40, GOOSE BAY, AK
- Airport: Z15, Birchwood, runway 19, 4,010 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,300 total, 15 in this make and model, 1,250 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FRN, 15 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 19900408007639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900408007639A), Apr 8, 1990: Piper PA18150, Birchwood, AK, Substantial damage. Ground looped on landing collapsing left main gear and causing wing damage. Bad weld on strut contributing factor.

## Other investigations on N64RS (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 ANC97FA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97FA002), Oct 2, 1996: Piper PA-18 (N64RS), Palmer, AK, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall. The unfavorable wind condition was a related factor.

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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