# NTSB GAA16CA458: Piper PA18, N9575D, Central, AK, August 26, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 25, 2016, 16:00 local (Aug 26, 2016, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Central, AK - Coordinates: 65.26667, -145.233337 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.2667&lon=-145.2333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 5, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93920 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA458 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93920/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93920 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA458 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to taxi on unsuitable terrain after landing, which resulted in an encounter with a washed out ditch. ## 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) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Taxi: 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 The pilot reported that he diverted to an un-published airstrip along his route due to poor visibility. The pilot further reported that after a normal landing, he was taxing to reposition the airplane and the right main landing gear dropped into a washed out ditch. The right wing impacted the ground and was substantially damaged. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he diverted to an un-published airstrip along his route due to poor visibility. The pilot further reported that after a normal landing, he was taxing to reposition the airplane and the right main landing gear dropped into a washed out ditch. The right wing impacted the ground and was substantially damaged. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9575D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9575D), registered now, S/N 18-6757, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA18 (150) - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-B2B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-b2b) (registry code 42138, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-6757 - Year built: 1958 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Swift Fork Air, doing business as Swift Fork Air - Registered owner: Cristina R. Laird & Mark Keech - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 19, 2016, 7,766 hours before - Departed: NONE, Central, AK - Destination: AK28, FAIRBANKS, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 7, 2016; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 10,250 total, 6,000 in this make and model, 10,100 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,200 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: PAFA, 76 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 20160825015299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160825015299A), Aug 25, 2016: Piper PA-18-150, Circle, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot landed on old mining strip that had been washed out by creek. Rutted and filled with soft sand spots and holes. As the pilot was taxiing to reposition… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 18, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93920. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 822 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445493&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 346 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445494&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.