# NTSB GAA16CA516: Piper PA 18, N2880P, Kotzebue, AK, September 26, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 25, 2016, 16:30 local (Sep 26, 2016, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Kotzebue, AK - Coordinates: 67.144721, -162.275283 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.1447&lon=-162.2753&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 6, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94099 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA516 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94099/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94099 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA516 ## Probable cause The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for an off-airport precautionary landing, which resulted in a nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: low visibility](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 175 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015/cases.md) - [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: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 83 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tundra tire-equipped, tailwheel airplane reported that he made an off-airport precautionary landing due to icing conditions; the airplane encountered soft terrain during the landing roll and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the intended destination's automated weather observation station about 19 miles to the south west, revealed that, about 37 minutes before the accident the wind was 120 degrees true at 14 knots, visibility 1 statue mile, light snow, mist, temperature 34 degrees Fahrenheit, dewpoint 30 degrees Fahrenheit. And, about 23 minutes after the accident the wind was 110 degrees true at 13 knots, overcast 1,700 feet, visibility 1 ¼ statue mile, light snow, mist, temperature 34 degrees Fahrenheit, dewpoint 32 degrees Fahrenheit. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tundra tire–equipped, tailwheel airplane reported that he made an off-airport precautionary landing due to icing conditions; the airplane encountered soft terrain during the landing roll and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the intended destination's automated weather observation station about 19 miles to the south west, revealed that, about 37 minutes before the accident the wind was 120 degrees true at 14 knots, visibility 1 statue mile, light snow, mist, temperature 34 degrees Fahrenheit, dewpoint 30 degrees Fahrenheit. And, about 23 minutes after the accident the wind was 110 degrees true at 13 knots, overcast 1700 feet, visibility 1 1/4 statue mile, light snow, mist, temperature 34 degrees Fahrenheit, dewpoint 32 degrees Fahrenheit. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2880P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2880P), registered now, S/N 18-4477, built 1955 (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: 18-4477 - Year built: 1955 - Airframe hours: 5758.8 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 3, 2015 - Departed: Walik River, AK - Destination: OTZ, KOTZEBUE, AK - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 15, 2015; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,821 total, 1,782.3 in this make and model, 85.4 in the last 90 days, 85.4 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 13 knots - Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft overcast - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.73 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: PAOT, 19 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 20160925019589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160925019589A), Sep 25, 2016: Piper PA-18-150, Kotzebue, AK, Substantial damage. PIC stated in telephone interview that he had departed kivalina, AK enroute to Kotzebue. While following the noatak river he noticed the aircraft flight… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 19, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94099. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 849 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448462&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 214 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448463&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%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.