# NTSB ANC97TA045: Piper PA-18, N4500W, Noatak, AK, April 1, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: April 1, 1997, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Noatak, AK - Coordinates: 67.569137, -162.999725 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.5691&lon=-162.9997&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 13, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3079 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97TA045 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3079/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97TA045 ## Probable cause failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane, which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop and damage to the airplane. Factors associated with the accident were: the ice/snow covered runway, and the pilot's lack of experience in the make and model of airplane. ## Analysis The pilot, an employee of the National Park Service, related he was returning to his position as a Park Ranger/Pilot after a three month furlough from the park service. The purpose of the accident flight was to regain proficiency in the Piper PA-18 airplane. The pilot said that during the landing roll on the fourth landing, he lost directional control of the airplane, and it ground looped to the left, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. Also, the pilot said he did not fly during his furlough, and that his total flight experience in the PA-18 airplane was approximately five hours. ## Factual narrative On April 1, 1997, about 1145 Alaska standard time, a wheel-ski equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N4500W, registered to the U.S. Department of the Interior and operated by the National Park Service (NPS), received substantial damage while landing at the Noatak Airport, Noatak, Alaska. The solo commercial pilot, a NPS employee, was not injured. The U.S. Government operated flight was initiated for the purpose of maintaining pilot flight proficiency, and operated in visual meteorological conditions under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight last departed Kotzebue, Alaska, and the immediate destination was the Noatak Airport. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on April 3, the pilot related he was returning to work with the NPS as a Park Ranger/Pilot, after a three month furlough. Since he had not flown during the time he was furloughed, he felt a need to practice his flying skills prior to a mission flight planned for the next day. The pilot was making a series of full stop landings at the Noatak Airport on wheel/ski equipped landing gear with the skis retracted. On the fourth landing on runway 36, the pilot said the airplane porpoised and bounced, and then went to the left during the landing roll. He said he overcorrected to the right, and then to the left. The airplane ground looped to the left, and came to rest facing in a westerly direction. Postaccident inspection disclosed damage to a longeron and the horizontal stabilizer. The written report submitted to the NTSB by the pilot indicated his total flight experience in a Piper PA-18 airplane was approximately five hours at the time of the accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - icy (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4500W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4500W), registered now, S/N 18-8009019, built 1980 (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: 18-8009019 - Airframe hours: 3109 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: National Park Service - Registered owner: U.S. Dept. Of The Interior - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 20, 1996, 21 hours before - Departed: OTZ, KOTZEBUE, AK - Destination: WTK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: WTK, Noatak, runway 36, 4,000 × 60 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 6,413 total, 5 in this make and model, 5,792 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: -15 °F, dew point -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 19970401004939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970401004939A), Apr 1, 1997: Piper PA18150, Noatak, AK, Substantial damage. Nps pilot not flown for 3 months was practicing landings. Porposied. Ground looped. Damaged empannage. ## Other investigations on N4500W (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 WPR26LA348](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA348), Sep 15, 2026: Piper PA-18-150 (N4500W), Roundup, MT, substantial damage, investigation ongoing - [NTSB GAA19CA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA045), Oct 27, 2018: Piper PA18 (N4500W), Denver, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing in gusting wind conditions. - [NTSB ANC03LA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA107), Sep 3, 2003: Piper PA-18 (N4500W), Koliganek, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during an aborted landing, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent collision with terrain. - [NTSB ANC92T#A12](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92T%23A12), Dec 19, 1991: Piper PA-18-150 (N4500W), 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.