# NTSB ANC95LA114: Piper PA-18, N8792D, Tyonek, AK, July 26, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 26, 1995, 07:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Tyonek, AK
- Coordinates: 61.079093, -151.160369 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.0791&lon=-151.1604&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 27, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 2694
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA114
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2694/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA114

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND THEN COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN WHILE HE WAS TURNING FROM BASE TO FINAL APPROACH AT THE DIRT AND GRASS AIRSTRIP.

## Factual narrative

On July 26, 1995, about 0730 Alaska daylight time, N8792D, a Piper PA-18, collided with terrain during an uncontrolled descent while approaching to land and was substantially damaged at Kustatan airstrip, near Tyonek, Alaska.  The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight departed from Merrill Field in Anchorage, Alaska, and was conducted under 14 CFR 91.

According to the pilot, the intended destination was a private grass airstrip used by fishermen along the Kustatan River near Tyonek.  He stated that while turning left from base to final, the airplane "entered into what appeared to be a stall/spin" and "fell out" onto the ground from an altitude of about 100 feet.  The airplane impacted in a swamp about 200 feet from the approach end of the airstrip.  The left wing was substantially damaged.  The pilot further stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8792D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8792D), registered now, S/N 18-6333, built 1958 (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 O-320-B2B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-b2b) (registry code 42138, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-6333
- Airframe hours: 2900
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Carl I. Andresen
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 25, 1994, 200 hours before
- Departed: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Airport: Kustatan, runway 31, 2,000 × 100 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 741 total, 122 in this make and model, 573 as pilot in command, 240 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ENA, 13 nm away

## 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 19950726046359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950726046359A), Jul 26, 1995: Piper PA18150, Tyonek, AK, Substantial damage. Too low on approach to remote strip. Stalled. Impacted in a swamp 200FT short. No mechanical problem.

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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