- Date
- July 23, 2017, 11:10 local (19:10 UTC)
- Place
- Sterling, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N4387APiper PA18S
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 31, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20170723005779A
- Case key
- 95670
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in crosswind conditions.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while landing in crosswind conditions and as the tailwheel set down, the airplane veered left. Subsequently, the airplane exited the left side of the runway, struck a well head, and came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system about 7 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 280° at 11 knots. The pilot landed on runway 26.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while landing in crosswind conditions, as the tailwheel set down the airplane veered left. Subsequently, the airplane exited the left side of the runway, struck a well head and came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system about 7 nautical miles from the accident site reported, about the time of the accident, the wind was 280° at 11 knots. The pilot landed on runway 26.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4387A
- Reported as
- Piper PA18S (150)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-4795
- Built
- 1956
- Airframe hours
- 2,320.55
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 20, 2017
- Departed
- AK84 · Sterling, AK
- Destination
- AK84 · Sterling, AK
- Airport
- AK84 · Scooter'S Landing Strip, runway 26, 2,400 × 80 ft, gravel
- Equipment
- Video recording device, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 54
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 23, 2016
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 88 total · 87 in this make and model · 41 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- PASX, 7 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 4, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.4 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.