# NTSB ANC96LA057: Piper PA-18, N2598P, Kotzebue, AK, April 27, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 26, 1996, 17:00 local (Apr 27, 1996, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Kotzebue, AK - Coordinates: 67.239456, -161.189651 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.2395&lon=-161.1897&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2829 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA057 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2829/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA057 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions. A factor in the accident was the gusty wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot stated that he encountered a gust of wind from the right side just before touchdown. He landed the airplane hard on the left ski and the left ski broke off. The airplane's left wing dragged the snow and the airplane veered left. The right ski dug into the snow and the right wing dragged the snow damaging the wing, wing struts, and fuselage. ## Factual narrative On April 26, 1996, at 1700 Alaska daylight time, a ski equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N2598P, registered to and operated by the pilot, landed hard and dragged the left wing followed by the right wing during landing at a field site, 60 miles north of Kotzebue, Alaska, located at geographic coordinates 68 degrees, 13 minutes north, and 160 degrees, 57 minutes west. The business flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91 for the purposes of hunt guiding, departed a field site on the Noatak River and the destination was the location of the accident site. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The certificated commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. During a telephone conversation with the pilot on April 27, 1996, he stated that he encountered a gust of wind during landing and the airplane landed hard on the left ski. The left ski broke off and the left wing dragged the snow. This caused the airplane to veer left and the right ski dug into the snow. The right wing dragged the snow damaging the wing, wing struts, and fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2598P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2598P), registered now, S/N 18-4346, built 1955 (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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 184346 - Airframe hours: 4170 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: David J. Leonard - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 19, 1996, 88 hours before - Departed: NOATAK RIVER, AK - Destination: NEAR KOTZEBUE, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 2,648 total, 2,080 in this make and model, 2,432 as pilot in command, 166 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 10 knots - Visibility: 99 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: -0 °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 19960426026479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960426026479A), Apr 26, 1996: Piper PA18150, Kotzebue, AK, Substantial damage. Ski equipped aircraft. Hard landing dragged both wings. Blamed wind gust. Ski broke other dug in snow. Remote sight ## Other investigations on N2598P (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 ANC67F0092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC67F0092), Mar 7, 1967: Piper PA-18 (N2598P), Mcgrath, AK, no 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.