# NTSB ANC95LA018: Piper PA-18, N717DR, Palmer, AK, December 12, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 12, 1994, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Palmer, AK
- Coordinates: 61.619293, -148.980819 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6193&lon=-148.9808&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 31, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 2616
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA018
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2616/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA018

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S MISJUDGED LANDING FLARE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS LANDING HIS WHEEL/SKI EQUIPPED AIRPLANE ON A FROZEN, SNOW COVERED LAKE. HE MISJUDGED HIS FIRST APPROACH TO LAND, AND PERFORMED A GO-AROUND. ON HIS SECOND APPROACH, HE SAID HE FLARED TOO HIGH, AND BY THE TIME HE REALIZED HIS MISTAKE, IT WAS TOO LATE TO RECOVER FROM THE ENSUING HARD LANDING.

## Factual narrative

On December 12, 1994, at 1330 Alaska standard time, a ski equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N717DR, collided with terrain during a landing attempt on a lake near the Eureka Lake Lodge.  The commercial certificated pilot and registered owner of the airplane, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage.  The pleasure flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 when the mishap occurred.  Visual meteorological conditions reportedly prevailed in the area and there was no flight plan on file.

On the morning of December 14, 1994, the NTSB investigator- in-charge conducted a telephone interview with the pilot.  The pilot said that he was in the process of repositioning his airplane from his home to the lake and that as a result of the flat light condition, he flared prematurely about 15 feet above the surface.  The plane landed hard with resultant damage to both landing gear and the right wing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N717DR (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-4387
- Airframe hours: 5844
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320A1A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mccarty, Ray E.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, November 9, 1994, 2 hours before
- Departed: AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,024 total, 540 in this make and model, 950 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 23 °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 19941212044199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941212044199A), Dec 12, 1994: Piper PA18150, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. Flared too high on landing ski plane on frozen lake. Dropped to ice hard impact. Blamed flat light conditions.

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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