# NTSB ANC97LA118: Piper PA-18, N339T, Circle, AK, August 9, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 8, 1997, 17:30 local (Aug 9, 1997, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Circle, AK - Coordinates: 65.790466, -144.19931 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.7905&lon=-144.1993&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3041 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA118 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3041/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA118 ## Probable cause The inadequate visual lookout by the pilot, and his selection of a landing area with high vegetation in the landing path. Factors which contributed to the accident were fatigue and the high vegatation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fatigue, pilot in command (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis The tundra tire equipped airplane touched down at the beginning of the 1,100-foot-long by 50-feet-wide grass strip. The right wing contacted willow brush, and the airplane ground looped. The pilot said he was trying to land at the beginning of the landing area, and did not see the brush. He also noted that he was fatigued. ## Factual narrative On August 8, 1997, about 1730 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N339T, sustained substantial damage when it contacted brush and ground looped during landing at an 1,100 feet long by 50 feet wide grass private airstrip, 28 miles southeast of Circle, Alaska. The solo private pilot was uninjured. The airplane was operated by Ingo, Inc., of Fairbanks, Alaska. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight, visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot stated that upon touchdown, the right wing contacted brush along the side of the airstrip, and the airplane ground looped. The pilot had landed at this same airstrip on previous occasions. He said that brush had grown into the approach end of the strip. During a telephone interview with the FAA, and in his NTSB Pilot-Operator Report, the pilot indicated he was tired. He also stated that he wanted to use the entire landing length available, and did not see the brush which had grown into the airstrip. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N339T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N339T), registered now, S/N 18-2453, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18 105](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-105) (registry code 7101809) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-2453 - Airframe hours: 4917 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ingo Hans Brigmann, doing business as Ingo H. Brigmann - Registered owner: Ingo Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1997, 22 hours before - Departed: CRC, AK - Destination: 28 MI UP YUKON, AK - Airport: runway 9, 1,100 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; foreign, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 811 total, 750 in this make and model, 760 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 6 knots - Visibility: 75 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °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 19970808021509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970808021509A), Aug 8, 1997: Piper PA18105, Circle, AK, Substantial damage. Aircraft crashed on landing. (.4)the tundra tire equipped airplane touched down at the beginning of the 1,100-foot-long by 50-feet-wide grass strip. The right… ## Other investigations on N339T (4) 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 ANC03LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA041), Apr 14, 2003: Piper PA-18 (N339T), Cantwell, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area in deep snow, which resulted in the nose over of the airplane on touchdown. A factor associated with the accident was a snow-covered airstrip. - [NTSB ANC95LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA128), Aug 4, 1995: Piper PA-18 (N339T), Circle, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S PREMATURE LIFTOFF DURING TAKEOFF. - [NTSB ANC89LA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA166), Sep 11, 1989: Piper PA-18 (N339T), Circle City, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL DURING THE LANDING ROLL. - [NTSB CHI66F0076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI66F0076), Jun 19, 1965: Piper PA-18 (N339T), Warsaw, IN, 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.