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ANC23LA039

2023-05-29 · Fairbanks, Alaska, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 2Z5

Current FAA registration · N4488Z

Make / Model
PIPER PA-18-150
Year of manufacture
1969 · 54 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20250401
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A56BDD

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing with a quartering tailwind, which resulted in a water loop and impact with terrain.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, during approach in a float-equipped airplane, she encountered a strong gust of wind and the airspeed decreased, so she increased engine power. Before touchdown, she felt the airspeed was too fast, she selected full flaps and reduced engine power. The airplane veered left, and the pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder and increased engine power; however, the airplane water looped to the left and impacted a riverbank, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot landed the airplane with a right quartering tailwind. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Tailwind-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2023_ANC23LA039.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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