# NTSB GAA16CA021: Piper PA 18-150, N4336Z, Old Harbor, AK, October 16, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 16, 2015, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Old Harbor, AK - Location: 57.2186° N, 153.3278° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Old Harbor, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB coordinates: 56.583889, -153.524993 (estimated), outside the stated state - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.2186&lon=-153.3278&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 15, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 92205 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA021 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92205/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92205 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA021 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, resulting in a collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); 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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 160 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he intended to perform a touch and go "to roll the tires" on a beach. He reported that he touched down, added power, and became airborne. He reported that shortly after becoming airborne the airplane rotated 90 degrees to the right, and the left wing impacted the ground. The airplane came to rest upright on an embankment and sustained substantial damage to the left wing, empennage, and elevator. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he intended to perform a touch and go "to roll the tires" on a beach. He reported that he touched down, added power, and became airborne. He reported that shortly after becoming airborne the airplane rotated 90 degrees to the right, and the left wing impacted the ground. The airplane came to rest upright on an embankment and sustained substantial damage to the left wing, empennage, and elevator. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4336Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4336Z-2016-10-11), registration cancelled 2016-10-11, S/N 18-8654, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 18-150 (A150) - 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: 18-8654 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 2993.4 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jungemann, Joel D. - Registered owner: Jungemann, Joel D. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 28, 2014 - Departed: PAKD, Kodiak, AK - Destination: Sulua Bay, AK - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 28, 2015; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 6,752 total, 350 in this make and model, 350 as pilot in command, 287 in the last 90 days, 101 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.14 inHg - Observed at: PADQ, 78 nm away ## 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 20151016017959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151016017959A), Oct 16, 2015: Piper PA-18-150, Sulua Bay, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot was attempting to land on a beach in Sulua Bay. To determine the condition of the beach, the pilot elected to "drag" the beach with his main tires. When… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 24, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92205. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435208&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 4 photos, 821 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435209&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-Master.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. --- 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.