# NTSB GAA16CA273: Piper PA 18, N6966D, Shulin Lake, AK, May 29, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 29, 2016, 10:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Shulin Lake, AK - Coordinates: 62.080833, -150.490829 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.0808&lon=-150.4908&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 93297 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA273 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93297/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93297 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA273 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during final approach. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, on short final during landing, he thought that he had cleared the trees on the approach end of the private airstrip. He reported that he aimed for his landing spot, but the propeller struck a tree and the airplane impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies or malfunctions during the flight with any portion of the airplane that would have prevented normal flight operations. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, on short final during landing, he thought that he had cleared the trees on the approach end of the private airstrip. He reported that he aimed for his landing spot, but the propeller struck a tree and the airplane impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies or malfunctions during the flight with any portion of the airplane that would have prevented normal flight operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: N6966D (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 18 (A-150) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-5547 - Year built: 1957 - Airframe hours: 5862 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-360-A4P 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ak Ac LLC - Registered owner: Ak Ac LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2015 - Departed: Anchorage, AK - Destination: Shulin Lake, AK - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 11, 2015; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 837 total, 275 in this make and model, 567 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: ANC, 61 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 20160529025309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160529025309A), May 29, 2016: Piper PA-18A 150, Petersville, AK, Substantial damage. Airman traveled to an unimproved strip near shulin lake on 05/29/2016. At approximately 1020 the pilot reported that he was on short final (conventional gear… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 22, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93297. 2.1 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=40444631&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 193 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444632&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.