PIPER PA-18-150
Palmer, AK — January 4, 2013
Event Information
| Date | January 4, 2013 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ANC13CA019 |
| Event ID | 20130104X71845 |
| Location | Palmer, AK |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 61.90528, -148.92361 |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | PIPER |
| Model | PA-18-150 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for an off-airport landing, which resulted in a ground-loop.
Full Narrative
The pilot departed from a private airstrip, in a wheel/ski-equipped airplane, on a local area flight. During the flight he elected to land on an ice-covered, frozen lake, and due to the bare ice conditions, he elected to land in a wheel configuration instead of ski configuration. During the landing roll, as the airplane slowed, the left tire broke through a layer of thin ice atop several inches of water, and the airplane veered left. The pilot applied engine power in an attempt to correct the veer, but the airplane subsequently ground-looped to the left, sustaining substantial damage to the empennage and fuselage. The pilot reported no preaccident anomalies with the airplane.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.