# NTSB ANC95LA064: Piper PA-18, N4232Z, Big Delta, AK, June 4, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 3, 1995, 18:00 local (Jun 4, 1995, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Big Delta, AK
- Coordinates: 63.700523, -144.890945 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.7005&lon=-144.8909&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 29, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 2656
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA064
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2656/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA064

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE LANDING SURFACE.  A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE ROUGH/UNEVEN LANDING SURFACE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS LANDING ON A NARROW UNIMPROVED AIRSTRIP.  THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT WHEEL ROLLED OFF THE AIRSTRIP'S SURFACE AND STRUCK A HOLE.  THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER.

## Factual narrative

On June 3, 1995, at 1800 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N4232Z, registered to and operated by the pilot, nosed over during landing on an unnamed and unimproved airstrip located 10 miles south of Fort Greely, Alaska, near Big Delta, Alaska.  The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Fairbanks, Alaska, and the destination was the airstrip.  A visual flight rules flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  The pilot and his passenger were not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged.

According to the pilot, the airstrip was narrow and the airplane's right wheel rolled off the airstrip. The wheel struck a hole and the airplane nosed over.

During a telephone conversation with the pilot, he was told that he would receive an NTSB Form 6120.1/2 and he agreed to complete the form.  The NTSB Form 6120.1/2 was sent to the pilot on three separate occasions, June 20, 1995, July 27, 1995 and September 29, 1995.  He did not respond to any of the requests.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4232Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4232Z-2013-09-13), registration cancelled 2013-09-13, S/N 18-7383, 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: 18-7383
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Parkerson, Stanley L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: FAI, FAIRBANKS, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,282 total, 50 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 99 statute miles

## 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 19950603019789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950603019789A), Jun 3, 1995: Piper PA18, Big Delta, AK, Substantial damage. Wheel rolled off edge of narrow unimproved landing strip. Nosed over.

## Other investigations on N4232Z (1)

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 ANC77DAG20](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC77DAG20), Dec 13, 1976: Piper PA-18 (N4232Z), Cordova, 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.

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