Summary
On October 19, 1999, a Piper PA-18-150 (N8918Y) was involved in an incident near Seward, AK. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident were a crosswind, and a downdraft.
On October 19, 1999, about 1200 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N8918Y, sustained substantial damage while landing at a remote airstrip on Latouche Island, about 48 miles east of Seward, Alaska, at latitude 60 degrees, 40 minutes north, and longitude 147 degrees, 59 minuets west. The solo commercial pilot/airplane owner was not injured. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC00LA011. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N8918Y.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident were a crosswind, and a downdraft.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On October 19, 1999, about 1200 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N8918Y, sustained substantial damage while landing at a remote airstrip on Latouche Island, about 48 miles east of Seward, Alaska, at latitude 60 degrees, 40 minutes north, and longitude 147 degrees, 59 minuets west. The solo commercial pilot/airplane owner was not injured. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on November 3, the pilot stated that he was flying to his cabin located on the northern tip of Latouche Island, after making an overnight stop on Montague Island. He said that after departing Montague Island for the short flight to Latouche Island, he thought the winds were fairly calm as he approached to land at his cabin site. He said that while landing to the south, and just before touchdown, the wind increased to an estimated 45 miles per hour from out of the south-southeast, and a strong downdraft pushed the airplane to the ground. He said the main landing gear struck the airstrip, and the airplane nosed down.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage longerons, both landing gear attach points, and both wing spars.
The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC00LA011