# NTSB CEN22LA374: Piper PA-18-150, N4210Z, Kenai, AK, July 27, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 27, 2022, 10:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Kenai, AK
- Coordinates: 61.38, -152.69 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.3800&lon=-152.6900&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105697
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA374
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105697/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105697
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA374

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain proper approach glide path, which resulted in a collision with a berm.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, while landing at an unimproved airstrip, the airplane landed short and impacted a berm. The airplane veered off the runway and came to rest on its nose. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4210Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4210Z), registered now, S/N 18-8429, built 1966 (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: 18-8429
- Year built: 1966
- Airframe hours: 4600
- Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 17, 2021
- Airport: N/A, N/A, runway N/A, 500 × 60 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review March 29, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 5,500 total, 3,500 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observed at: PAEN, 2 nm away
- METAR: PAEN 272153Z 36007KT 10SM CLR 19/04 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP210 T01890044

## 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 20220727013269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220727013269A), Jul 27, 2022: Piper PA-18-150, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. On the morning of Wednesday July 27, 2022, the pilot departed hilltop airport (AK24) for a remote unimproved airstrip. The remote landing site is located at…

## Other investigations on N4210Z (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 ANC76DAG58](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC76DAG58), Oct 19, 1975: Piper PA-18 (N4210Z), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 24, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105697. 2.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 980 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14465973&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Complete%206120%20CEN22LA374_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14465627&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN22LA374%20Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf

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.

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