NTSB ANC92FA148 — 1992-08-31 · ANCHORAGE, Alaska, United States

Current FAA registration · N4493Z

Make / Model: PIPER PA-18-150
Year of manufacture: 1969 · 23 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19690923
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A56EE5

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N4493Z Piper PA-18 None

Probable cause & findings

MISJUDGMENT BY THE PILOT TO INSURE ADEQUATE DISTANCE FROM OBJECTS IN THE TAKEOFF AREA, WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE MAIN LANDING GEAR ON TAKEOFF, AND THE UNCONTROLLED GROUND LOOP BY THE PILOT DURING A LANDING WITH THE DAMAGED LANDING GEAR. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE STUMP OR LOG OBSTRUCTING THE TAKEOFF AREA, AND THE DISTORTION TO THE LANDING GEAR FOLLOWING THE TAKEOFF AT THE REMOTE LOCATION.

Factual narrative

THE PILOT OF THE PA-18 EQUIPPED WITH BALLOON TIRES STRUCK A STUMP OR OTHER OBJECT PRIOR TO BECOMING AIRBORNE AT A REMOTE STRIP. AFTER STRIKING THE OBJECT, THE PILOT BECAME AIRBORNE, ASSESSED DAMAGED TO THE LANDING GEAR AND CONTINUED THE FLIGHT TO ANCHORAGE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. UPON TOUCHDOWN THE PILOT LOST CONTROL AND THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED IN THE DIRECTION OF THE DAMAGED MAIN GEAR AND NOSED OVER ON LANDING ROLL. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1992_ANC92FA148.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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