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ANC14CA029

2014-05-26 · Anchorage, Alaska, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport AK12

Current FAA registration · N234T

Make / Model
PIPER PA-18-105 SPECIAL
Year of manufacture
1953 · 61 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-290 SERIES (140 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19560525
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A21905

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's loss of control of the airplane during landing roll on a rough, grass airstrip in gusting wind.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that the windsock indicated wind from 130 degrees at 15 to 20 knots and that he entered a left pattern for runway 13. The pilot decided to go around after briefly touching down during the first approach, which he described as "turbulent with strong thermal activity on 1/4 mile final" with wind gusts during landing. He stated that the second approach was more comfortable, and the airplane touched down within the first 100 feet. The pilot stated that he flew a faster than normal final segment and touchdown due to the wind and turbulence with the intentions of performing a wheel landing, which he described as his normal procedure for the airstrip in such conditions. He stated that, during the landing, the tires bounced up about 6 to 8 inches on the frost heaves (which he also described as normal for the airstrip), and then the right wing lifted to what felt like about 2 feet. The pilot applied aileron and rudder corrections and applied the brakes during the landing roll, but the airplane moved the left of the airstrip centerline and collided with two parked airplanes. The pilot noted that he has flown into the airstrip for 21 years in all conditions and did not feel uncomfortable with the landing conditions. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction of the airplane. He said that he had recent experience in the airplane but noted that it may differ some from his own airplane in how it reacts to flight control inputs. The pilot reported that the windsock indicated wind from 130 degrees at 15 to 20 knots and that he entered a left pattern for runway 13. The pilot decided to go around after briefly touching down during the first approach, which he described as "turbulent with strong thermal activity on 1/4 mile final" with wind gusts during landing. He stated that the second approach was more comfortable, and the airplane touched down within the first 100 feet. The pilot stated that he flew a faster than normal final segment and touchdown due to the wind and turbulence with the intentions of performing a wheel landing, which he described as his normal procedure for the airstrip in such conditions. He stated that, during the landing, the tires bounced up about 6 to 8 inches on the frost heaves (which he also described as normal for the airstrip), and then the right wing lifted to what felt like about 2 feet. The pilot applied aileron and rudder corrections and applied the brakes during the landing roll, but the airplane moved the left of the airstrip centerline and collided with two parked airplanes. The pilot noted that he has flown into the airstrip for 21 years in all conditions and did not feel uncomfortable with the landing conditions. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction of the airplane. He said that he had recent experience in the airplane but noted that it may differ some from his own airplane in how it reacts to flight control inputs. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Rough terrain-Contributed to outcome
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Aircraft-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2014_ANC14CA029.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Related research

Matched on aircraft type or causal vocabulary (loss of control, turbulence). All research papers