Bethel Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bethel, Alaska 99559
Sunday, April 3, 2005 17:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot reported he was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane on runway 36, which required a correction for a left crosswind. During the landing touchdown, the airplane bounced slightly and settled onto the right main tire. He said he attempted to abort the landing, but the airplane went off the runway, and ground looped to the right. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot noted there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. A weather observation taken at the time of the accident consisted of: Sky conditions and ceiling, 1,500 feet scattered; visibility, 10 statute miles; wind, 320 degrees (magnetic) at 11 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to compensate for a crosswind during an aborted landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control. A factor associated with the accident was a crosswind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/3/2005
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone --
Event City Bethel
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99559
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 604600N
Event Location Longitude 1615000W
Event Location Airport Bethel
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BET
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 123
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1704 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID BET
Elevation of weather observation facility 123
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.62
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 18160
NTSB Notification Source ANC FAA, ROC
NTSB Notification Date Apr 3 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 13 2005 12:54PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Anchorage FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9091D
NTSB Number ANC05CA054
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-18
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18-6469
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 1 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3907
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Paul D. Tony
Aircraft Owner Street Address 17628 Toakoana Way
Aircraft Owner City Eagle River
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99577
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Paul D. Tony
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 17625 Toakoana Way
Operator City Eagle River
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99577
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MCG
Departure City McGrath
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1354
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code BET
Destination City Bethel
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 16 2005 6:19PM
User who most recently changed record LABJ
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 6398
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --