# NTSB ANC93LA137: Piper PA-18, N4485A, Northway, AK, August 7, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 7, 1993, 13:32 local (21:32 UTC)
- Place: Northway, AK
- Coordinates: 62.99974, -141.690994 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.9997&lon=-141.6910&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 20, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 2396
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA137
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2396/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA137

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON TOUCHDOWN.  A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

COMMERCIAL PILOT OF SUPERCUB EQUIPPED WITH 29 INCH BALLOON TIRES LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF AIRPLANE ON LANDING IN GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITIONS.  AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES ALONG SIDE RUNWAY.

## Factual narrative

On August 7, 1993, at 1332 Alaska daylight time, the commercial pilot of a tundra-tire-equipped Piper PA-18 Supercub airplane, N4485A, lost control on landing and struck trees at the edge of the runway.  The accident occurred at Northway, Alaska following a personal flight which had originated at 1200 at Gulkana.  No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions.  The pilot, as sole occupant was not injured, however the airplane was substantially damaged.

The pilot told investigators that gusty crosswinds "picked up his wing," and the airplane hit the trees on the edge of the runway.  He said that the airplane had been operating normally, and that it was equipped with 29 inch GAR-AERO balloon tires.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4485A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4485A), registered now, S/N 18-4850, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18A 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (registry code 7101837) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-4850
- Airframe hours: 3150
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Gaunt, Galen
- Registered owner: Galen B. Gaunt
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 27, 1993, 2 hours before
- Departed: GKN, GULKANA, AK
- Destination: ORT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: ORT, Northway, runway 22, 5,100 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 3,004 total, 550 in this make and model, 2,751 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 8 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ORT

## 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 19930807031209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930807031209A), Aug 7, 1993: Piper PA18150, Northway, AK, Substantial damage. Turbulence on approach. Struck trees near runway on landing.

## Other investigations on N4485A (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 UNK64X1726](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X1726), May 11, 1964: Piper PA18 (N4485A), Chanute, KS, 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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