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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

September 1, 1993 · Piper PA-18 · N4402Z

Squirrel River, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 1, 1993
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Squirrel River, AK
Aircraft
Piper PA-18
Tail Number
N4402Z
Operator
Taylor Cecil W
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC93LA166

THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER TOUCHING DOWN ON THE RIDGE THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED SO HE ADDED POWER FOR A GO AROUND. THE RIGHT WING THEN DROPPED AND HIT THE GROUND, AND THE AIRPLANE SPUN AROUND ABOUT 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT AND HIT HARD ON ITS NOSE. HE SAID HE WAS LANDING WITH AN APPROXIMATE 10 GUSTING TO 15 KNOT LEFT QUARTERING HEADWIND.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT IMPROPERLY COMPENSATED FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS.

Full Narrative

On August 31, 1993, at 1800 Alaska daylight time, the pilot of a wheel equipped Piper PA 18 airplane, N4402Z, lost control of the airplane and collided with the terrain while landing on a ridge adjacent to the Squirrel River, about 70 miles northeast of Kotzebue, Alaska. The private pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The business flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed a local remote hunting camp at 1730. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported the accident to the NTSB on September 2, 1993. During that telephone conversation he stated the following in part: "The winds were gusty so I was landing a bit faster than normal. I had the airplane trimmed for landing. The airplane touched down, bounced, then the right wing went down and hit the ground. The airplane then spun around about 90 degrees and hit hard on the nose. The gusty wind made the right wing go down so fast that I could not level the wings before it hit the ground."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:00 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-18
Tail NumberN4402Z
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorTaylor Cecil W
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-A2B · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 48 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind330° @ 10 kt, gusting 15 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data