# NTSB ANC94LA043: Piper PA-18, N3485Z, Soldotna, AK, March 12, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 12, 1994, 17:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Soldotna, AK - Coordinates: 60.319835, -150.79013 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.3198&lon=-150.7901&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 12, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2492 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2492/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA043 ## Probable cause THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND/FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. ## 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 - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS DEMONSTRATING WHEEL LANDINGS TO A NON-RATED STUDENT PILOT. SHORTLY AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE PLANE BEGAN TO SWERVED TOWARD THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. APPLICATION OF LEFT RUDDER PEDAL DID NOT ARREST THE SWERVE AS THE INSTRUCTOR APPLIED WHEEL BRAKING AND THE PLANE NOSED OVER. ## Factual narrative On March 12, 1994, at approximately 1745 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N3485Z, collided with terrain during the landing rollout on runway 7 at the airport in Soldotna, Alaska. The pilot-in-command/flight instructor and his student, who was also the registered owner of the airplane, were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. At the time of the accident, visual meteorological conditions prevailed and there was no filed flight plan in effect for the flight. The flight instructor reported that he was demonstrating to the student a wheel landing to show the proper use of throttle and pitch control for a smoother touchdown. The instructor said that he made a normal approach and normal wheel landing. At idle power when the tailwheel contacted the runway, the airplane initially tracked down the centerline of the runway but then began to veer toward the right side of the runway. His judicious application of left rudder pedal did not arrest the plane's divergent heading. He reported that he then applied the wheel brakes lightly to slow the plane at which point the plane nosed over. The instructor said that the plane's brakes were not locked up as there were no tire marks on the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3485Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3485Z), registered now, S/N 18-7317, built 1960 (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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-7317 - Airframe hours: 2488 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Laudon, Scott L. - Registered owner: Laudon, Scott L. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special flight (Special); Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, August 2, 1993, 95 hours before - Departed: Z41, ANCHORAGE, AK - Airport: SXO, Soldotna, runway 7, 4,973 × 130 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 4,900 total, 400 in this make and model, 4,400 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °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 19940312004909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940312004909A), Mar 12, 1994: Piper PA18, Soldotna, AK, Substantial damage. Demo of wheel landing by CFI. Veered on landing tail up. Touched brakes. Nosed over. ## Other investigations on N3485Z (2) 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 ANC70DAG19](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC70DAG19), May 13, 1970: Piper PA-18 (N3485Z), Cordova, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC67F0066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC67F0066), Aug 4, 1966: Piper PA-18 (N3485Z), Gakona, 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.