# NTSB ANC95LA145: Piper PA-18A, N9067D, Skwentna, AK, August 17, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 17, 1995, 09:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Skwentna, AK - Coordinates: 61.930236, -151.72966 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.9302&lon=-151.7297&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 6, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2723 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA145 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2723/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA145 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF A SHORT/UNEVEN LANDING AREA THAT REQUIRED EXCESSIVE BRAKING ACTION WHILE LANDING WITH A TAILWIND. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor) - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS LANDING ON A RIVER GRAVEL BAR NEAR A REMOTE LODGE. THE LANDING AREA WAS ORIENTED ON A 090 DEGREE HEADING. IT WAS ABOUT 375 FEET LONG AT 2,300 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL. A SLIGHT TAILWIND WAS PRESENT FROM THE WEST OF ABOUT 4 KNOTS. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO NOSE DOWN. HE RELEASED THE BRAKES, BUT WAS APPROACHING THE END OF THE LANDING AREA. THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A DIP IN THE GRAVEL SURFACE WHEN THE PILOT APPLIED BRAKING ACTION ONCE AGAIN. THE AIRPLANE THEN NOSED OVER AND RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE WING RIBS. ## Factual narrative On August 17, 1995, about 0900 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18, N9067D, crashed during landing in a remote area near the Post Lake Lodge, about 67 miles west of Skwentna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area business flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The airplane, operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from an area near Rohn, Alaska, about 0830. In a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported that he was asked by a guide to fly to the area of the Post Lake Lodge, near the Post River, to check on the status of clients. He stated that although he is a guide for Alaska Wilderness Outfitters, he was not checking on his own clients. The pilot indicated that he was landing to the east on a gravel bar with a slight tailwind from the west of about 4 knots. The landing area is about 375 feet long at 2,300 feet mean sea level. After touchdown, the pilot applied the brakes and the airplane started to nose down. He released the brakes but was approaching the end of the landing area. The airplane encountered a dip in the gravel surface when the pilot applied braking action once again. The pilot said that the airplane then nosed over and received damage to the wing ribs. Following the accident, the pilot contacted the NTSB Northwest Field Office to report that the airplane did not receive substantial damage. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Anchorage Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) talked with the pilot to arrange for an inspection of the airplane. The pilot did not keep the appointment. An NTSB pilot/operator report (form 6120.1/2) that was provided to the pilot on 8/22/95 and 12/12/95, was not returned. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9067D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9067D), registered now, S/N 18-6432 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18A - Registry model: [Piper PA-18A 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (registry code 7101837) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-6432 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: James L. Baum - Registered owner: Raymond L. Baum - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: ROHN, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 5,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 4 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °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 19950817025749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950817025749A), Aug 17, 1995: Piper PA18A150, Skwentna, AK, Substantial damage. Fishing survey flight. Landed short unimproved strip. Had to brake heavily to avoid overrun. Nosed over. 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.