# NTSB ANC94LA134: Piper PA-18-150, N57698, Gulkana, AK, September 10, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 9, 1994, 19:45 local (Sep 10, 1994, 03:45 UTC)
- Place: Gulkana, AK
- Coordinates: 55.919155, -159.490631 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.9192&lon=-159.4906&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 2565
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA134
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2565/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA134

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO COMPENSATE FOR A TAILWIND AND MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.  A TAILWIND WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.

## 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
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - roll
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PILOT, ACCOMPANIED BY A PASSENGER, WAS LANDING A TUNDRA TIRE EQUIPPED AIRPLANE ON A REMOTE GRAVEL BAR ADJACENT TO A RIVER.  DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO TURN TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT AND IT GROUND LOOPED TO THE RIGHT.  THE LEFT WING AND HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WERE DAMAGED WHEN THEY STRUCK THE GROUND. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HE NOTICED A TAIL WIND OF ABOUT 4 TO 5 KNOTS FROM THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER OF THE AIRPLANE.

## Factual narrative

On September 9, 1994, at approximately 1945 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire wheel equipped Piper PA18-150 airplane, N57698, owned and operated by the pilot-in-command, collided with terrain during a landing attempt at a remote site near the confluence of the Tyone River and Susitna River about 30 miles west of Gulkana, Alaska.  The private certificated pilot and his one male passenger, the sole occupants, were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage.  The pleasure flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, last departed Lake Louise at about 1800 and the intended destination was the accident site.  The pilot reported that visual meteorological conditions prevailed and that he had left an itinerary of the flight with his wife.

During a telephone interview on September 13, 1994, the pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge that the landing was conducted in a 4 to 5 knot right quartering tail wind.  During the landing rollout, he lost directional control of the airplane and the plane ground looped to the right.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N57698](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N57698), registered now, S/N 18-7709126, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-B2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-b2a) (registry code 42137, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-7709126
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Maynard, Roger L.
- Registered owner: Maynard, Roger L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Z55, LAKE LOUISE, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, expired; seat: front; flight hours: 1,711 total, 400 in this make and model, 1,652 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °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 19940909026189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940909026189A), Sep 9, 1994: Piper PA18150, Gulkana, AK, Substantial damage. Lost directional control landing tundra tire equipped cub on tundra. Had a quartering tail wind. Ground looped.

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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