# NTSB ANC95GA083: Piper PA-18, N82735, Copper Center 2, AK, April 10, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: April 9, 1995, 18:30 local (Apr 10, 1995, 02:30 UTC) - Place: Copper Center 2, AK - Coordinates: 62.1007, -145.52951 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.1007&lon=-145.5295&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 23, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2600 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95GA083 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2600/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95GA083 ## Probable cause THE PILOT NOT USING THE CHECKLIST AND LANDING WITH THE SKIS PUMPED DOWN. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - checklist - not used, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH WHEEL SKIS. TO OPERATE ON SKIS, THE PILOT HAS TO PUMP DOWN THE SKIS. THE WHEELS DO NOT TOUCH THE RUNWAY'S SURFACE WITH THE SKIS PUMPED DOWN. THE PILOT STATED HE DID NOT USE THE CHECKLIST AND LANDED WITH THE SKIS PUMPED DOWN. HE LANDED ON THE SEMI DRY RUNWAY AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. ## Factual narrative On April 9, 1995, at 1830 Alaska daylight time, a wheel/ski equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N82735, registered to and operated by the Alaska Department of Public Safety, Alaska State Troopers, nosed over during landing at Copper Center #2, Copper Center, Alaska. The public use flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Copper Center #2 for a local flight. A visual flight rules flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The Pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. According to the Pilot, he landed on the semi dry runway with the skis pumped down. With the skis pumped down, the wheels did not touch the runway and the airplane nosed over. According to information provided by the Pilot on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, he did not use the checklist before landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N82735](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82735), registered now, S/N 18-7709183, built 1977 (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: 18-7709183 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91 - Operator: Brian Stevenson - Registered owner: State Of Alaska - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 7, 1995, 10 hours before - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: Z93, Copper Center II, runway 31, 2,500 × 100 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,320 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 1,320 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 5 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 45 °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 19950409049509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950409049509A), Apr 9, 1995: Piper PA18150, Glennallen, AK, Substantial damage. (-16) A Piper PA-18 on wheel skis, operated by the Alaska state troopers, landed on a dry gravel air strip with skis in the down position, and the aircraft… ## Other investigations on N82735 (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 WPR22LA288](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA288), Jul 28, 2022: Piper PA-18-150 (N82735), McCarthy, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper decision to takeoff from an unimproved airstrip with a high density altitude which degraded its climb performance and led to a collision with vegetation off the end of the… - [NTSB ANC15FA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15FA009), Jan 31, 2015: Piper PA 18 (N82735), Wasilla, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: Both pilots’ inadequate visual lookout and failure to see and avoid each other while in level cruise flight, which resulted in a midair collision. Contributing to the accident was the obscuration of… - [NTSB ANC02TA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02TA036), May 16, 2002: Piper PA-18 (N82735), Holy Cross, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. A factor in the accident was the presence of high vegetation (willows) along the right side of the landing area. 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.