# NTSB ANC94LA062: Piper PA-18, N4320Z, Kotzebue, AK, June 1, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 31, 1994, 22:30 local (Jun 1, 1994, 06:30 UTC) - Place: Kotzebue, AK - Coordinates: 67.240486, -161.190902 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.2405&lon=-161.1909&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 25, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2506 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2506/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA062 ## Probable cause DIRECTIONAL CONTROL NOT MAINTAINED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INADVERTANT GROUND LOOP/SWERVE. ## 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 - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis DURING A CROSSWIND LANDING, WHILE DOING A SERIES OF TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS WITH A PASSENGER, THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED. ## Factual narrative On May 31, 1994, at approximately 2230 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-18 Supercub airplane, N4320Z owned by Michael Spisak, d.b.a. Alaska Island Air, nosed over in a water-filled ditch along side the runway at the Kotzebue Airport, Alaska. The airline transport pilot, occupying the rear seat and an uncertificated dual flight student, occupying the front seat, were not injured in the accident which substantially damaged the airplane. The airplane was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91, without a flight plan, in visual meteorological conditions, for the purpose of performing touch and go landings in the local area. The pilot told investigators that during the landing roll, a crosswind picked up the wing, and he "just let it go a little too far," when the airplane turned right angles to the runway, departed the gravel surface and overturned in the water-filled ditch. He said that he was in the pattern showing a friend touch and go landings. Witnesses reported the airplane to have been doing a series of touch and go landings prior to the accident. Investigators from the NTSB and FAA learned that the pilot had been occupying the rear seat of the Supercub and the person in the front seat was not a certificated pilot. Asked if he was conducting training in touch and go's, the pilot in command told the NTSB investigators, "well not exactly, I'm not a CFR, he (the student in the front seat) just works for Mike Spisak." The pilot was asked by the NTSB to show the aircraft to an FAA inspector who would be arriving the following day. The pilot said "no, he (the inspector) can't come on Mike's (Spisak, Ram Aviation, Kotzebue) property, there's a restraining order." The FAA inspector was able to see the airplane and described the airframe damage to the wing tip bow, several ribs and the forward spar to be substantial. The pilot reportedly discussed the accident and said that a crosswind caused a loss of control, and he denied that he was giving flight instruction to the pilot in the front seat. In a pilot report to the NTSB, the pilot indicated that he was a pilot in command of single and multiengined airplanes and listed all of his pilot time as pilot in command. This time included multiengined airplanes requiring two pilots (he listed a DC-3 type rating), none of which he listed as copilot time. Of his entire 5500 hours claimed as pilot time, no time was listed as dual student or copilot. The pilot in command indicated that he had 100 hours of instructor time in single and multiengine airplanes. FAA records indicate that he does not hold a flight instructor's certificate. The pilot in command also indicated that he had 20 hours total experience in the accident airplane make and model, and all was "pilot in command." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4320Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4320Z), registered now, S/N 18-8633, 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: 18-8633 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Michael Spisak, doing business as Ram Aviation - Registered owner: Michael A. Spisak - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 1, 1994, 22 hours before - Departed: OTZ - Destination: OTZ - Airport: OTZ, Kotzebue Airport, runway 17, 3,800 × 50 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 5,550 total, 20 in this make and model, 5,500 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 10 knots - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19940531013099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940531013099A), May 31, 1994: Piper PA18150, Kotzebue, AK, Substantial damage. Crosswind gust landing caused cub to swerve. Lost control. Exited runway into a pond. Nosed over. ## Other investigations on N4320Z (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 ANC03LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA092), Aug 8, 2003: Piper PA-18 (N4320Z), Healy, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain aircraft control after encountering wind gusts during the landing flare/touchdown which resulted in an in-flight… - [NTSB ANC98LA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA076), Jun 16, 1998: Piper PA-18 (N4320Z), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilots misjudgement of the tailwind, and excessive application of brakes during the off airport landing. - [NTSB ANC98LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA035), Apr 4, 1998: Piper PA-18 (N4320Z), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. Factors in the accident were snow covered terrain, and a hidden obstruction. 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.