# NTSB ANC92LA135: Piper PA-18, N7146K, Wasilla, AK, August 6, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 5, 1992, 16:00 local (Aug 6, 1992, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Wasilla, AK
- Location: 61.5785° N, 149.4763° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wasilla, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5785&lon=-149.4763&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5782
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC92LA135
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5782/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA135

## Probable cause

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING ROLL.  CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE UNFAVORABLE WIND, THE TREES, AND THE FENCE.

## 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
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - object - fence (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AND LEFT THE RUNWAY. THE RIGHT WING HIT SOME SMALL TREES, THEN THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED INTO A CHAIN LINK FENCE.  A 15 TO 40 MPH GUSTY WIND WAS REPORTED BY THE PILOT AND WITNESSES. THE PILOT SAID A CROSSWIND CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO LEAVE THE RUNWAY, HOWEVER, TWO WITNESSES ON THE GROUND SAID THE WIND WAS 'STRAIGHT DOWN THE RUNWAY'.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7146K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7146K-2017-10-20), registration cancelled 2017-10-20, S/N 18-363, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-363
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Richard, Garry A.
- Registered owner: Todd W. Dreka
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 3, 1992, 4 hours before
- Departed: FAI, FAIRBANKS, AK
- Airport: Z16, Wasilla, runway 5, 2,100 × 80 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 8,600 total, 100 in this make and model, 8,495 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °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 19920805031509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920805031509A), Aug 5, 1992: Piper PA18, Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. Bounced on landing,came down on angle. Ran off runway. Wing hit trees. Ground looped into chain link fence.

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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