- Date
- May 27, 2018, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Kenai, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N4018EPiper PA18
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 5, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180527006069A
- Case key
- 97339
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 during the landing roll with a tailwind.
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, during the landing roll, the airplane ground looped to the left. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and lift struts. 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 station located about 5 miles north of the accident airport reported that, about 7 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 220° at 7 knots. The airplane landed on runway 36.
Factual narrative
The pilot the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll, the airplane ground looped to the left. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and lift struts. 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 station located about 5 miles to the north of the accident airport reported that, about 7 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 220° at 7 knots. The airplane landed on runway 36.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4018E
- Reported as
- Piper PA18 (150)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-7809040
- Built
- 1977
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- LHD · Anchorage, AK
- Destination
- 0AA7 · Kenai, AK
- Airport
- 0AA7 · Kalifonsky Meadows, runway 36, 2,539 × 100 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment
- Unknown
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
- 64
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 14, 2017
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 600 total · 3 in this make and model · 600 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.67 inHg
- Observed at
- PAEN, 5 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 9, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 564 KB 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.
Other investigations on N4018E · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.