# NTSB ANC99LA013: Piper PA-18-150, N3391Z, Kenai, AK, November 11, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 11, 1998, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Kenai, AK - Coordinates: 60.659934, -150.899291 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.6599&lon=-150.8993&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 45336 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45336/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA013 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat. A factor associated with the accident was weather conducive to carburetor icing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, landing - aborted - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - carburetor heat - not used, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - aborted - terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment - Nose over, landing - aborted - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The private pilot was attempting to land on a remote sand bar. He reported that as the airplane touched down, he determined that the landing area was too short to complete a safe landing, and he attempted to abort the landing. As the throttle was advanced, the engine quit, and that he was unable to stop the airplane before reaching the end of the sand bar. The airplane went down an embankment, entered a river, and nosed over. The pilot related that he did not use carburetor heat during the aborted landing, and that carburetor ice was the reason for the loss in power. He added that there was nothing mechanically wrong with the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and the right wing lift strut. ## Factual narrative On November 11, 1998, about 1400 Alaska standard time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N3391Z, sustained substantial damage while landing at an off airport site located about 29 miles northwest of Kenai, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with a National Transportation Safety Board investigator on November 19, 1998, the pilot reported that he was attempting to land on a remote sand bar. He reported that as the airplane touched down, he determined that the landing area was too short to complete a safe landing, and he attempted to abort the landing. He reported that as the throttle was advanced, the engine quit, and that he was unable to stop the airplane before reaching the end of the sand bar. The airplane went down an embankment, entered a river, and nosed over. The pilot related that he did not use carburetor heat during the aborted landing, and that carburetor ice was the reason for the loss in power. He added that there was nothing mechanically wrong with the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and the right wing lift strut. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3391Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3391Z), registered now, S/N 18-7276, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-150 - 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: 18-7276 - Airframe hours: 4939 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael M. Thompson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 9, 1998, 69 hours before - Departed: ENA, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 587 total, 507 in this make and model, 527 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Temperature: 36 °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 19981111031689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981111031689A), Nov 11, 1998: Piper PA18150, Kenai, AK, Substantial damage. On November 11, 1998, about 1400 Alaska standard time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N3391Z, sustained substantial damage while landing at… ## Other investigations on N3391Z (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 ANC76DAH49](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC76DAH49), Aug 8, 1976: Piper PA-18 (N3391Z), Mccarthy, 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.