# NTSB ANC99TA061: Piper PA-18, N7051, Nome, AK, May 15, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: May 15, 1999, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Nome, AK - Coordinates: 64.709037, -164.620849 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7090&lon=-164.6208&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 46397 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99TA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46397/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99TA061 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. A factor in this accident was the crosswind. ## 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) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - snowbank - Nose down, landing - roll ## Analysis The airplane was being landed on a gravel road. The wind was blowing from 40 degrees left of the nose at 12 knots. The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge that the landing was normal, the airplane 'crow hopped' and drifted to the right. The airplane drifted off the right side of the road, the wheels contacted soft snow, and the airplane nosed down. ## Factual narrative On May 15, 1999, about 1330 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-ski equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N7051, sustained substantial damage when it nosed down during landing about 58 miles north of Nome, Alaska. The solo private pilot was not injured. The airplane was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a public use aircraft by the State of Alaska Department of Public Safety. The flight departed Nome about 1205 to patrol for bear hunters. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a company VFR flight plan was filed. The pilot reported to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) during a telephone interview on May 17, that he was landing on a clear section of a two-lane gravel road to assist a company airplane which had become stuck in soft snow. There was a 12 knot crosswind, blowing from 40 degrees left of the airplane's nose. The pilot stated that the touchdown and landing roll were uneventful, until the airplane "crow hopped" to the right. The airplane departed the right side of the road. The wheels contacted soft snow, and the airplane nosed down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-rear lift-strut. The pilot told the IIC that there were no preaccident anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7051](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7051), registered now, S/N 18-2932, built 1953 (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: 18-2932 - Airframe hours: 12278 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91 - Registered owner: Alaska Dept Of Public Safety - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 4, 1998, 61 hours before - Departed: OME, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 456 total, 337 in this make and model, 324 as pilot in command, 92 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 12 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19990515005369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990515005369A), May 15, 1999: Piper PA18150, Nome, AK, Substantial damage. Alaska department of fish and wildlife public use acft veered off the right side of a road while landing on it and went into a ditch, other circumstances are… ## Other investigations on N7051 (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 ANC07TA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07TA080), Aug 11, 2007: Piper PA-18 (N7051), McGrath, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was rough and uneven terrain conditions. - [NTSB ANC03TA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03TA072), Jul 9, 2003: Piper PA-18-160 (N7051), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in an encounter with high brush. - [NTSB ANC87LA161](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC87LA161), Sep 17, 1987: Piper PA-18 (N7051), Sparrevohn, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC68F0100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC68F0100), Feb 25, 1968: Piper PA-18 (N7051), King Salmon, 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.