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October 11, 2003 · Piper PA-18-150 · N3573P

Ketchikan, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 11, 2003
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Ketchikan, AK
Aircraft
Piper PA-18-150
Tail Number
N3573P
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC04LA002

The private pilot was practicing touch and go landings in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. He reported he lost directional control during a wheel landing, and he applied full power in an attempt to regain control, but the airplane lifted off steeply and stalled. The airplane subsequently descended off the right side of the runway and ground looped, receiving structural damage to the landing gear, right wing, and fuselage.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed after an aborted landing, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and a ground loop. A factor contributing to the accident was the loss of directional control on the ground.

Full Narrative

On October 11, 2003, about 1230 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel-equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N3573P, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control during an aborted landing and subsequent ground loop at the Ketchikan Airport, Ketchikan, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The solo private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on October 21, the FAA inspector who interviewed the pilot said the pilot was performing touch-and-go landings. He said the pilot told him the airplane landed hard and bounced, and he applied power to abort the landing, but the airplane stalled, settled off the right side of the runway, and ground looped. The inspector said the airplane sustained structural damage to the landing gear, right wing, and fuselage. In a telephone conversation with the IIC on January 21, 2004, and in a written statement provided by the pilot dated February 25, 2004, the pilot said he was practicing wheel landings when he lost directional control of the airplane after touchdown. He said he applied full power to regain directional control, but the airplane lifted off too steeply, and stalled to the right. The pilot said after touching down the second time, the airplane ground looped.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:30 AKDT
Nearest AirportKetchikan International (0nm)
Runway29
Runway Length7500 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-18-150
Tail NumberN3573P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320 · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 39 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind3 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 6000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point48 / 45 C
Altimeter29.52 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data