# NTSB ANC99LA094: Piper PA-18, N3675P, Teller, AK, July 19, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 18, 1999, 19:00 local (Jul 19, 1999, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Teller, AK - Coordinates: 65.249153, -166.360351 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.2492&lon=-166.3604&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 46867 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46867/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA094 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper starting procedure. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, standing - starting engine(s) - starting procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The commercial pilot stated in his NTSB Pilot/Operator report that he hand-propped the airplane. When the engine started, the throttle was farther forward than the pilot expected, and the plane began to move. The pilot said he attempted to hang on, but was unable to do so as the airplane accelerated. The airplane became airborne, then crashed into the ocean near the beach, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. ## Factual narrative On July 18, 1999, about 1900 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N3675P, sustained substantial damage when it impacted ocean waters, about 19 miles south of Teller, Alaska, at 64 degrees 58.5 minutes north latitude, 166 degrees 39.4 minutes west longitude. The solo commercial pilot was not on board the airplane when the accident occurred. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) personal flight, returning to Nome, Alaska, from an off airport, beach landing site. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed. According to the FAA inspector who interviewed the pilot on July 20, and the statement written by the pilot in his NTSB Pilot/Operator report, the pilot had loaded the airplane to return to Nome. He was starting the airplane by hand-propping the engine from outside the airplane. The pilot indicated the throttle was advanced farther than he realized, and when the engine started, the airplane began to move. The pilot said he attempted to hold onto the airplane, but was unable to do so. When he let go, the airplane became airborne, then crashed into the water near the beach. He was reported overdue by a relative, and located by the crew of an Alaska National Guard helicopter about 2100, on July 19. The pilot indicated on his most recent medical certificate, July 1987, that his total flight time was 2,000 hours. He did not provide any pilot flight time information in his NTSB Pilot/Operator report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3675P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3675P-2018-03-12), registration cancelled 2018-03-12, S/N 18-4574, built 1955 (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: 18-4574 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Angelo Buffas, Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: OME, NOME, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, expired; seat: front; flight hours: 2,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 19990718009289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990718009289A), Jul 18, 1999: Piper PA18150, Teller, AK, Substantial damage. Crashed on landing. Other circumstances are unknown.(.19) on July 18, 1999, about 1900 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped paiper PA-18 airplane,… ## Other investigations on N3675P (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 ANC15FA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15FA062), Aug 7, 2015: Piper PA 18-150 (N3675P), Chugiak, AK, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have… - [NTSB ANC83LA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83LA020), Nov 30, 1982: Piper PA-18-150 (N3675P), Brevig Mission, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB DEN68D0024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN68D0024), Jul 11, 1967: Piper PA-18 (N3675P), Walden, CO, substantial damage - [NTSB UNK64X2245](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X2245), Jun 12, 1964: Piper PA18 (N3675P), Walden, CO, 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.