# NTSB ANC95LA154: Piper PA-18, N7786D, Sleetmute, AK, August 29, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 29, 1995, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Sleetmute, AK - Coordinates: 61.679264, -157.159255 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6793&lon=-157.1593&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 6, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2728 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA154 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2728/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA154 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S ADEQUATE COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE CROSSWIND 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 - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - Gear collapsed, landing - landing gear,main gear strut - overload - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - berm ## Analysis THE PILOT AND A PASSENGER WERE LANDING AT A REMOTE HUNTING LODGE. THE PILOT LANDED TO THE WEST WITH A 7 KNOT CROSSWIND FROM THE SOUTH. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED TO THE LEFT AND VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRSTRIP, ACROSS A BERM. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE RIGHT GEAR STRUT FAILED DURING THE LANDING. THE PILOT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE GEAR STRUT MAY HAVE FAILED DUE TO INTERNAL CORROSION; HOWEVER, AN INSPECTION DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF CORROSION. ## Factual narrative On August 29, 1995, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18, N7786D, crashed during landing at a remote airstrip, about 20 miles south of Sleetmute, Alaska, along the Holitna river. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country hunt/guide business flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to the pilot and operated by Crescent Lake Lodge, Sleetmute, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and the sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Sleetmute airstrip about 1230. The pilot reported that he was landing at the lodge to transport a hunter to the lodge. The airstrip is about 1,200 feet long at 250 feet mean sea level, on a 090/270 degree orientation. The pilot landed to the west with a 7 knot cross-wind from the south. During the landing roll, the airplane ground looped to the left and veered off the left side of the airstrip, across a berm. The right main landing gear collapsed and the right wing contacted the ground. The pilot indicated that the right gear strut failed during the landing; however, the landing gear was restrained by the gear safety cable. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, Anchorage Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), reported that the pilot was concerned that the gear strut may have failed due to internal corrosion. An inspection by the inspector did not reveal any evidence of corrosion. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7786D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7786D), registered now, S/N 18-5984, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18A 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (registry code 7101837) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-A2B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-a2b) (registry code 42101, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-5984 - Airframe hours: 3722 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Crescent Lake Lodge - Registered owner: Charles E Green - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 30, 1995 - Departed: SLQ, AK - Airport: Cresent Lake Lodge, runway 27, 1,200 × 200 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 5,000 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 7 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 19950829027099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950829027099A), Aug 29, 1995: Piper PA18A150, Sleetmute, AK, Substantial damage. Ground looped landing in crosswind at lodge strip. Reported right gear failed due corrosion. None found. ## Other investigations on N7786D (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 ANC85FA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85FA086), May 24, 1985: Piper PA-18-150 (N7786D), 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.