# NTSB ANC97LA083: Piper PA-18, N91855, Anchorage, AK, June 4, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 4, 1997, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.219211, -149.849822 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2192&lon=-149.8498&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 29, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3014
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA083
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3014/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA083

## Probable cause

the flight instructor's delay in taking remedial action to correct an approach for a simulated emergency landing.  A factor relating to the accident was: the student pilot's excessive descent rate during the approach.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi)
  - proper descent rate - exceeded, dual student (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - flare - not attained (cause)
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

The flight instructor (CFI) was providing flight instruction in a float equipped airplane to a student that held a commercial certificate. The student was adding a single-engine seaplane rating to his license. The student was seated in the front seat of the airplane and was performing a simulated forced landing on a remote lake. During the landing approach, about 20 ft above the water, the rate of descent increased to about 300 feet per minute. Both pilots advanced the throttle, but the airplane touched down hard on the water. The airplane received damage to a fuselage longeron at the forward float attach point.

## Factual narrative

On June 4, 1997, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Piper PA-18, N91855, crashed during landing on a lake, about 7 miles west of Anchorage, Alaska.  The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area instructional flight when the accident occurred.  The airplane, operated by Alaska Air Academy, Anchorage, sustained substantial damage.  The certificated commercial pilot/flight instructor (first pilot), and the certificated commercial pilot/dual student (second pilot), were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  The flight originated at the Lake Hood Seaplane Base, Anchorage, about 1200.

On June 5, 1997, at 0800, the first pilot reported in a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), that he was providing seaplane instruction to the second pilot.  The second pilot was seated in the front seat of the airplane and was performing a simulated forced landing on Twin Island Lake.  During the landing approach, about 20 feet above the water, the rate of descent increased to about 300 feet per minute.  Both pilots added throttle but the airplane touched down hard on the water.  The airplane received damage to a fuselage longeron at the forward float attach point.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N91855 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-18
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-8009017
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 lbs thrust reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Great Northern Airlines, doing business as Alaska Air Academy
- Registered owner: Jeff C. Puente
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 27, 1997
- Departed: LHD

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,278 total, 68 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °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 19970604015789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970604015789A), Jun 4, 1997: Piper PA18150, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Seaplane dual practice engine out forced water landing. High sink rate on final. Damaged fuselage longeron.

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.

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