# NTSB ANC94LA004: Piper PA-18, N2765A, Bear Creek, AK, October 4, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 4, 1993, 15:20 local (23:20 UTC) - Place: Bear Creek, AK - Coordinates: 64.899322, -148.160263 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8993&lon=-148.1603&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2462 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2462/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA004 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S DELAYED GO-AROUND PROCEDURE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT DURING THE GO-AROUND. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor) - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND IN A TAIL WIND WITH THE CARBURETOR HEAT SELECTED. THE DEGRADED ENGINE POWER LIMITED CLIMB PERFORMANCE OUT OF GROUND EFFECT AND THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE TERRAIN ABOUT 600 FEET BEYOND THE TOUCHDOWN POINT. ## Factual narrative On October 4, 1993, at 1520 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-18 Supercub airplane, N2765A, crashed into a riverbank during an attempted go-around maneuver. The location of the accident was approximately 60 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska, at a location known as "the short Bear Creek Strip." The flight had departed Fairbanks, Alaska, at approximately 1430 in visual meteorological conditions operating under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal reasons. No flight plan was filed. The pilot and passenger, the sole occupants, received minor injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The passenger told the NTSB that during the approach from the north to a 650 foot gravel strip, "a tail wind of about 8 mph" was encountered and the pilot "overshot the touchdown spot by about 150 feet." He said when the pilot attempted to go-around "it felt like he wasn't getting full power, like the carb heat was on." The passenger said that the airplane "did not climb and the wheels hit the four foot bank on the other side of the creek and we turned over." The airplane was reportedly equipped with 30 inch "Airstreak" tundra balloon tires. No statement was received from the pilot and no information was received regarding his pilot certificate information or experience. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2765A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2765A-2020-09-18), registration cancelled 2020-09-18, S/N 18-1824, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-135) (registry code 7101820) (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: 18-1824 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Johnson, Elmer A. - Registered owner: Elmer A. Johnson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal - Departed: FAI, FAIRBANKS, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: front ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 8 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 19 °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 19931004037669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931004037669A), Oct 4, 1993: Piper PA18135, Beaver, AK, Substantial damage. Crashed on landing. (-4)the pilot attempted a go-around in a tail wind with the carburetor heat selected. The degraded engine power limited climb performance… ## Other investigations on N2765A (3) 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 GAA19CA348](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA348), Jun 16, 2019: Piper PA18 (N2765A), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot receiving instruction's premature pitch control input during takeoff, which resulted in an aborted takeoff and subsequent impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the flight… - [NTSB ANC77DAA29](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC77DAA29), Jun 19, 1977: Piper PA-18 (N2765A), Paxson, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC72DAG71](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC72DAG71), Sep 17, 1971: Piper PA-18 (N2765A), Glenallen, AK, 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. --- 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.