# NTSB ANC99LA053: Piper PA-18, N7696D, Anchorage, AK, April 15, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 15, 1999, 09:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.15945, -149.990478 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1594&lon=-149.9905&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 46217 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA053 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46217/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA053 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions. Factors associated with the accident were a crosswind, and an inadvertent ground loop. ## 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 - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll ## Analysis The solo private pilot was landing on runway 33 in a tailwheel equipped airplane on a paved runway. The pilot said that wind conditions at the time of the accident required that the pilot correct for a 10 knot, left crosswind from 240 degrees. The pilot stated that during the landing roll, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right, and he overcorrected to the left. He added that the right main wheel 'grabbed' and the airplane ground looped to the left. During the ground loop, the right wing struck a runway light, and sustained substantial damage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The closest weather observation station is Merrill Field. On April 15, at 0853, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting in part: Sky conditions and ceiling, 6,500 scattered; visibility, 10 statute miles; wind, 320 degrees (true) at 5 knots. ## Factual narrative On April 15, 1999, about 0915 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire, tailwheel equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N7696D, received substantial damage while landing at the Merrill Field Airport, Anchorage, Alaska. The solo private pilot was not injured. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, on March 28, the pilot reported that he was landing on runway 33, which required a correction for a 10 knot, left crosswind from 240 degrees. The pilot stated that during the landing roll, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right, and he overcorrected to the left. He added that the right main wheel "grabbed", and the airplane ground looped to the left. During the ground loop, the right wing struck a runway light, and sustained substantial damage. The closest weather observation station is Merrill Field. On April 15, at 0853, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting in part: Sky conditions and ceiling, 6,500 scattered; visibility, 10 statute miles; wind, 320 degrees (true) at 5 knots. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7696D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7696D), registered now, S/N 18-5924 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18A](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a) (registry code 7101804) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-5924 - Airframe hours: 3925 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James E. Johnson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 30, 1999, 4 hours before - Departed: Z41, AK - Airport: MRI, Merrill Field, runway 33, 2,640 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 320 total, 200 in this make and model, 320 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Not reported - Wind: 320° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MRI ## 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 19990415020539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990415020539A), Apr 15, 1999: Piper STCPA18, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. On April 15, 1999, about 0915 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire, tailwheel equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N7696D, received substantial damage while landing… 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.