# NTSB ANC95LA098: Piper PA-18-160, N3774Z, Palmer, AK, July 5, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 5, 1995, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Palmer, AK - Coordinates: 58.800865, -156.899429 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.8009&lon=-156.8994&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 8, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2682 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2682/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA098 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, DURING AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING ON ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE. THE TERRAIN CONDITION WAS A RELATED FACTOR. ## 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 - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - Tail gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,tailwheel assembly - overload ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS LANDING AT AN OFF-AIRPORT SITE ADJACENT TO A CREEK. HE SAID THE AIRPLANE WENT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LANDING SITE AND ENTERED ROUGH TERRAIN. THE TAILWHEEL ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM THE AIRFRAME, AND THE EMPENNAGE WAS DAMAGED. ## Factual narrative On July 5, 1995, about 1430 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-18-160 airplane, N3774Z, received substantial damage while landing at Friday Creek, an off-airport site located approximately 15 miles east of Palmer, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot and the one passenger aboard reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 pleasure flight departed Anderson Lake about 1400 in visual meteorological conditions for the flight to Friday Creek. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on July 6, the pilot reported he was landing on a small, unimproved strip of land near Friday Creek. During the landing roll, the airplane went off the right side of the landing site. The pilot said he corrected to the left, but the tail wheel caught in the rough terrain, and was pulled from the empennage, causing substantial damage to the airframe. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3774Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3774Z), registered now, S/N 18-7454 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-160 - 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: 30875 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gary S. Munoz - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: ANDERSON LAKE, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 537 total, 467 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 5 knots - Visibility: 90 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °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 19950705016659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950705016659A), Jul 5, 1995: Piper PA18150, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. Landed on unimproved remote strip. Veered off edge of strip. Tail wheel caught in rocks. Pulled from empannage. ## Other investigations on N3774Z (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 ANC10CA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10CA037), May 6, 2010: Piper PA-18-150 (N3774Z), Port Moller, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of the left rudder cable retaining bolt during base to final turn, resulting in a loss of control and impact with terrain. - [NTSB ANC00LA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA114), Sep 5, 2000: Piper PA-18 (N3774Z), Ruby, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadvertent ground loop/swerve during the landing roll. - [NTSB ANC68D0091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC68D0091), Dec 19, 1967: Piper PA-18 (N3774Z), Anchorage, 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. --- 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.