NTSB ANC20CA048 — 2020-05-15 · Skwentna, Alaska, United States

Current FAA registration · N323DH

Make / Model: PIPER PA-18-150
Year of manufacture: 1963 · 57 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19630326
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A379C8

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N323DH Piper PA18 None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop.

Factual narrative

The pilot was landing the tailwheel and tundra tire-equipped airplane on a gravel surfaced runway. After touchdown, the airplane veered right and the pilot applied left rudder and left brake, but the airplane continued and ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left elevator and left wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the accident may have been prevented if she had been more proficient in the accident airplane. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2020_ANC20CA048.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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