# NTSB GAA19CA538: Piper PA18, N19GB, Palmer, AK, September 5, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 4, 2019, 18:00 local (Sep 5, 2019, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Palmer, AK
- Coordinates: 61.310001, -148.580001 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.3100&lon=-148.5800&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 17, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 100238
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA538
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100238/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100238
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA538

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 160 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during landing on the dry lakebed, he was following a friend's airplane. During the right turn from base to final, his airplane was too close to the airplane ahead, so he decided to make a right turn and land in a clearing. The airplane landed hard and sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during landing on the dry lakebed, he was #2 to land following a friend's airplane. During the right turn from base to final, he recalled that he was too close to the airplane ahead and decided to make a right turn and land in a clearing. The airplane landed hard and sustained substantial damage to both wings, and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N19GB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N19GB), registered now, S/N 18-7666, built 1961 (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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-7666
- Year built: 1961
- Airframe hours: 4938
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 14, 2019
- Departed: Anchorage, AK
- Destination: 4AK6, Wasilla, AK
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 5, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 5,800 total, 17 in this make and model, 3,380 as pilot in command, 77 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 59 °F
- Observed at: PAQ, 25 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 20190904012539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190904012539A), Sep 4, 2019: Piper PA-18-150, Knik Glacier, AK, Substantial damage. Departed an off airport strip of the Knik river to a traffic pattern for a low pass in sequence behind another PA-18. On turn to final, the separation between…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 29, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100238. 6.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 6.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480353&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- M emorandum for Record -No Photographs (item 2, .PDF, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480354&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=M%20emorandum%20for%20Record%20-No%20Photographs-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.

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