# NTSB ANC99LA054: Piper PA-18, N1389A, King Salmon, AK, April 22, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 21, 1999, 22:10 local (Apr 22, 1999, 06:10 UTC) - Place: King Salmon, AK - Coordinates: 58.750453, -156.540206 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.7505&lon=-156.5402&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 46218 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46218/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA054 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. A factor associated with the accident was 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 - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis The certificated private pilot was landing a tundra tire, tailwheel equipped airplane, on a paved dry runway. The pilot stated that the touchdown and the landing roll were uneventful, until the airplane's nose veered slightly to the left. He said he compensated by applying right rudder, but the airplane suddenly ground looped to the left. He stated that the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing collided with the runway during the ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, and right wing struts. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On April 21, 1999, about 2210 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire, tailwheel equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N1389A, received substantial damage while landing on runway 29 at the King Salmon Airport, King Salmon, Alaska. The certificated private pilot, and the one passenger aboard were not injured. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight last departed Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1900, and the destination was the King Salmon Airport. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on April 22, the pilot stated that the touchdown and the landing roll were uneventful, until the airplane's nose veered slightly to the left. He said he compensated by applying right rudder, but the airplane suddenly ground looped to the left. He stated that the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing collided with the runway during the ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, and right wing struts. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1389A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1389A), registered now, S/N 18-1220, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-1220 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Roger A. Denny - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: AKN, King Salmon, runway 29, 8,500 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 130 total, 20 in this make and model, 100 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 39 °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 19990421003849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990421003849A), Apr 21, 1999: Piper PA18, King Salmon, AK, Substantial damage. Acft crashed on landing and sustained substantial damage, other circumstances are unknown. (.19) on April 21, 1999, about 2210 Alaska daylight time, a tundra… 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.