# NTSB ANC93LA129: Piper PA-18, N91219, Anchorage, AK, August 1, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 31, 1993, 18:53 local (Aug 1, 1993, 02:53 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.159652, -149.989578 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1597&lon=-149.9896&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 31, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2389 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA129 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2389/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA129 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION, WHILE ON AN APPROACH TO LAND BEHIND ANOTHER AIRPLANE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Vortex turbulence encountered, landing - flare/touchdown - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - water ## Analysis JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, THE FLOATPLANE'S WINGS ROCKED SEVERAL TIMES, THEN THE LEFT WING HIT THE WATER. THE PILOT AND A WITNESS SAID THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE FROM A DEHAVILLAND DHC-2 (BEAVER) AIRPLANE THAT HAD LANDED SECONDS EARLIER. THE PILOT SAID SHE LANDED A NORMAL DISTANCE BEHIND THE BEAVER. A WITNESS ON THE SHORE SAID THE APPROACH AND LANDING WAS TOO FAST AND TOO CLOSE BEHIND THE BEAVER. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 31, 1993, at 1853 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Piper PA 18 airplane, N91219, dragged a wing while landing at Lake Hood Seaplane Base, Anchorage, Alaska. The private pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Monkey Creek Lake, located about 20 miles north of Talkeetna, Alaska, at approximately 1800. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and no flight plan was filed. Following the accident, during a telephone interview, the pilot stated that when the airplane was about 2 feet above the water, the left wing suddenly dipped down and hit the water. She said she had encountered turbulence from a landing de Havilland DHC 2 Beaver airplane, but thought she had landed a normal distance behind the Beaver. She further said that she had not encountered any turbulence during the approach and landing until just before the wing hit the water. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The accident was witnessed by Mr. Robert A. Wallace, 2302 West Tudor Road, #4, Anchorage, Alaska 99507. At the time he was on the shore of the lake. Following the accident, during a telephone interview, he stated the following in part: "I presently fly Boeing 747 airplanes for Japan Airlines. I have about 11,700 total flight hours, including a lot of time in small land and seaplanes. My attention was caught by the PA 18 (N91219) making such a fast nose low approach, and turning in on a very tight base leg. That put it landing closer than normal behind the Beaver, and subsequently getting caught in it's turbulence. The Cub's wings started rocking from the turbulence when it was about 30 to 50 feet above the water. The floats touched down first then the left wing hit the water." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N91219](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91219-2019-12-02), registration cancelled 2019-12-02, S/N 18-8209003, built 1982 (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: 18-8209003 - Airframe hours: 574 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Foster, Ann M. - Registered owner: Foster, Ann M. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 11, 1992, 60 hours before - Departed: DONKEY CRK LAKE, AK - Destination: LHD - Airport: LHD, Lake Hood Sp Base, runway 27, 4,540 × 150 ft, water ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 537 total, 470 in this make and model, 465 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 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 19930731027369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930731027369A), Jul 31, 1993: Piper PA18150, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Float equipped PA18 was observed in tight fast approach beyond landing. Dragged wing in water on flare. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.