# NTSB ANC93LA166: Piper PA-18, N4402Z, Squirrel River, AK, September 1, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 31, 1993, 18:00 local (Sep 1, 1993, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Squirrel River, AK
- Coordinates: 66.979888, -160.429885 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.9799&lon=-160.4299&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 26, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 2421
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA166
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2421/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA166

## Probable cause

THE PILOT IMPROPERLY COMPENSATED FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted
  - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - aborted

## Analysis

THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER TOUCHING DOWN ON THE RIDGE THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED SO HE ADDED POWER FOR A GO AROUND.  THE RIGHT WING THEN DROPPED AND HIT THE GROUND, AND THE AIRPLANE SPUN AROUND ABOUT 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT AND HIT HARD ON ITS NOSE.  HE SAID HE WAS LANDING WITH AN APPROXIMATE 10 GUSTING TO 15 KNOT LEFT QUARTERING HEADWIND.

## Factual narrative

On August 31, 1993, at 1800 Alaska daylight time, the pilot of a wheel equipped Piper PA 18 airplane, N4402Z, lost control of the airplane and collided with the terrain while landing on a ridge adjacent to the Squirrel River, about 70 miles northeast of Kotzebue, Alaska.  The private pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged.  The business flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed a local remote hunting camp at 1730.  Visual meteorological conditions existed, and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported the accident to the NTSB on September 2, 1993.  During that telephone conversation he stated the following in part:  "The winds were gusty so I was landing a bit faster than normal.  I had the airplane trimmed for landing.  The airplane touched down, bounced, then the right wing went down and hit the ground.  The airplane then spun around about 90 degrees and hit hard on the nose.  The gusty wind made the right wing go down so fast that I could not level the wings before it hit the ground."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4402Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4402Z-2017-05-22), registration cancelled 2017-05-22, S/N 18-8735, built 1968 (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: 18-8735
- Airframe hours: 1282
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Taylor, Cecil W.
- Registered owner: Taylor, Cecil W.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1993, 22 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 992 total, 950 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °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 19930831032879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930831032879A), Aug 31, 1993: Piper PA18150, Squirrel River, AK, Substantial damage. Bounced landing on remote strip. Lost control. Dragged a wing. Spun around and nosed up.

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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