# NTSB ANC96LA125: Piper PA-18, N9272D, Anchorage, AK, August 16, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 15, 1996, 19:30 local (Aug 16, 1996, 03:30 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.159717, -149.989578 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1597&lon=-149.9896&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2881 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA125 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2881/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA125 ## Probable cause the pilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude to the runway during the approach, and failure to attain the proper touchdown point. A factor relating to the accident was: the ditch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis The certificated private pilot was landing a tundra tire, tailwheel-equipped airplane on a gravel airstrip. The airplane developed a high rate of descent. The pilot added power to begin a go-around but the airplane touched down about 180 feet short of the runway threshold in a rutted area. The airplane then collided with a ditch in tall grass and nosed over. ## Factual narrative On August 15, 1996, about 1930 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18, N9272D, crashed during landing at Lake Hood Strip, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Northway airport, Northway, Alaska, at 1530, as a continuation of a flight from Teslin, Yukon Territories, Canada. On August 16, 1996, at 1510, the pilot reported in a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) that he was on a landing approach to runway 31. The pilot indicated that his descent rate was excessive and he added power to begin a go-around. The airplane landed about 180 feet short of the runway threshold in a rutted area and collided with a ditch in tall grass. The airplane then nosed over. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9272D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9272D), registered now, S/N 18-6573, built 1958 (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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-6573 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lawrence A. Smith - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 1996, 49 hours before - Departed: ORT, NORTHWAY, AK - Destination: Z41 - Airport: Z41, Lake Hood Strip, runway 31, 2,200 × 70 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,914 total, 745 in this make and model, 52 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LHD, 1 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 19960815024089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960815024089A), Aug 15, 1996: Piper PA18A150, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. High sink rate on final. Late correction by adding power. Impacted short. Struck a ditch. ## Other investigations on N9272D (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 ANC79DAH08](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC79DAH08), Sep 1, 1979: Piper PA-18A (N9272D), 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.