# NTSB ANC97TA095: Piper PA-18-180, N3685Z, Tok, AK, June 27, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: June 27, 1997, 07:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Tok, AK - Coordinates: 63.179393, -143.099914 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.1794&lon=-143.0999&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3082 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97TA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3082/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97TA095 ## Probable cause The second pilot/dual student's failure to maintain a proper glidepath, and the pilot-in-command/flight instructor's inadequate supervision. A factor associated with the accident was a downdraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - proper glidepath - not maintained, dual student (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis The second pilot was a rated float plane pilot, but did not meet the criteria to act as pilot-in-command (PIC) by his employer, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The PIC, who was also employed by the USFWS, was a certifcated flight instructor, and was giving additional instruction to the second pilot to meet the USFWS standards for PIC. The second pilot was flying at the time of the accident. The two pilots had been practicing touch-and-go landings on a lake. During the approach to land, the airplane's floats inadvertently touched on a flat, grassy area short of the water. Engine power was applied, and the airplane continued to the lake to make an uneventful landing. Postflight inspection disclosed a damaged fuselage near the left float's rear attachment point. The PIC believes the airplane may have encountered a downdraft just prior to touching down on the grassy area. ## Factual narrative On June 27, 1997, about 0730 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped PA-18-180 airplane, N3685Z, sustained substantial damage while landing at Moon Lake, located about 20 miles west of Tok, Alaska. The airline transport/certificated flight instructor pilot-in-command (PIC), and the commercial certificated second pilot, reported no injuries. The U.S. Government flight was operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under 14 CFR Part 91 as an instructional flight. The purpose of the flight was for the flight instructor to assist the second pilot in qualifying for PIC flight status on float equipped airplanes with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The second pilot was rated for float planes, but did not meet the U.S. Fish and Wildlife's criteria for PIC. The local flight operated in visual meteorological conditions, and a company VFR flight plan was in effect. According to an Office of Aircraft Services investigator who interviewed both pilots, the second pilot was flying the airplane on an approach to Moon Lake to practice glassy water landings. The accident landing was the fourth or fifth touch and go landing at the same lake. On the accident landing, the airplane momentarily touched down short of the lake in a flat, grassy area. Engine power was applied, and the airplane continued a short distance to an uneventful landing on Moon Lake. Postflight inspection of the airplane by another flight crew disclosed two damaged longerons near the left float's rear attachment point. The PIC noted in his written report to the NTSB that on the accident approach to land, the airplane possibly encountered a downdraft just prior to the inadvertent touchdown in the grassy area. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3685Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3685Z), registered now, S/N 18-7417, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-180 - 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: 18-7417 - Airframe hours: 5000 - Engines: Lycoming L-O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service - Registered owner: U.S. Dept. Of Interior - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 15, 1997, 31 hours before - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 10,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 9,500 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 50 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 19970627017079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970627017079A), Jun 27, 1997: Piper PA18150, Tok, AK, Substantial damage. (.4) The second pilot was a rated float plane pilot, but did not meet the criteria to act as pilot-in-command (PIC) by his employer, the U.S. Fish and wildlife… ## Other investigations on N3685Z (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 ANC04CA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04CA116), Sep 28, 2004: Piper PA-18-180 (N3685Z), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area, which resulted in a nose over. A factor associated with the accident was tundra. - [NTSB ANC01LA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA114), Aug 16, 2001: Piper PA-18-160 (N3685Z), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadvertent ground loop during the landing roll. 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.