# NTSB ANC96LA121: Piper PA-18, N9730P, Arctic Village, AK, August 8, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 8, 1996, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Arctic Village, AK - Coordinates: 68.090171, -145.600921 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=68.0902&lon=-145.6009&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2877 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA121 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2877/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA121 ## Probable cause The airplane's low airspeed during final approach, and the pilot's delayed remedial action in correcting the low airspeed condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - airspeed - low, pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot reported he allowed the airspeed to decay while on short final approach to a gravel bar. He said he applied power, but did so too late, and the airplane touched down hard before the gravel bar. The airplane subsequently nosed over and slid onto the gravel bar. ## Factual narrative On August 8, 1996, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18 airplane, N9730P, sustained substantial damage while landing at an off airport site approximately 45 miles northwest of Arctic Village, Alaska. The private pilot and sole passenger aboard were not injured. The personal, 14 CFR Part 91 flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated at Arctic Village, Alaska, about 1215. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on August 16, the pilot related that he allowed the airplane's airspeed to become too slow while on short final approach to a gravel bar. He said he added power, but was too late to keep the airplane from sinking and landing hard and short of his intended touchdown point. The airplane traveled a short distance and nosed over. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9730P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9730P), registered now, S/N 18-7609007, built 1975 (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: 18-7609007 - Airframe hours: 1919 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jerry D. Sanders - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, June 12, 1996, 11 hours before - Departed: ARC, ARCTIC VILLAGE, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,741 total, 1,602 in this make and model, 1,684 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 60 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 19960808028259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960808028259A), Aug 8, 1996: Piper PA18150, Arctic Village, AK, Substantial damage. High sink arrested too late landed short of gravel bar. Nosed over. ## Other investigations on N9730P (2) 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 ANC10CA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10CA077), Aug 27, 2010: Piper PA-18-150 (N9730P), Wasilla, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, resulting in a runway excursion and nose over. - [NTSB MKC79FTG04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC79FTG04), Mar 9, 1979: Piper PA-18 (N9730P), Goodrich, ND, destroyed 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.