# NTSB ANC91LA121: Piper PA-18, N2370H, Anchorage, AK, August 9, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 9, 1991, 13:22 local (21:22 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.180637, -149.880508 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1806&lon=-149.8805&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 10, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5598
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC91LA121
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5598/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91LA121

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL.  CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S WEATHER EVALUATION MISJUDGMENT, THE HIGH WIND, AND ROUGH WATER ENCOUNTERED DURING TAKEOFF.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose over, takeoff - roll/run

## Analysis

THE LEFT WING BEGAN TO RISE DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN ON THE LAKE AND THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.  THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER ON ITS BACK AND SANK INTO 20 FEET OF WATER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2370H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2370H), registered now, S/N 18-7909178, built 1979 (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: 18-7909178
- Airframe hours: 772
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Moeller, David A.
- Registered owner: Moeller, David A.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, September 5, 1990, 16 hours before
- Destination: NONE, ALEXANDER LAKE, AK
- Airport: LHD, Lake Hood Seaplane, runway 13, 1,370 × 150 ft, water

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 471 total, 192 in this make and model, 288 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 16 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ANC, 1 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 19910809033259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910809033259A), Aug 9, 1991: Piper PA18150, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Left wing came up on crosswind water takeoff. Unable to control. Aborted. Right float dug in. Aircraft nosed over.

## Other investigations on N2370H (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 LAX80DVM04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80DVM04), Oct 31, 1979: Piper PA-18 (N2370H), San Jose, CA, 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.

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