N/A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Prudhoe Bay, Alaska 99734
Friday, July 11, 2014 20:00 ADT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was landing his tailwheel-equipped airplane at an off-airport site. Upon touchdown the airplane began to veer to the right. The pilot applied full left rudder in an attempt to correct for the veer, but the airplane continued to the right. The pilot then initiated a go-around, but was still unable to maintain directional control, and aborted the go-around, which resulted in a ground loop. During the ground loop the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left elevator. In a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Investigator-in-Charge (IIC) on July 12, the pilot stated that the right brake may have malfunctioned, but he thought it was more probable that he had lost control. In a statement the pilot provided to the NTSB IIC on September 12 the pilot stated that an examination of the right main wheel brake assembly at the accident site revealed no deficiencies. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the accident may have been avoided if he had not attempted a go-around and had used more aggressive braking on the left main wheel.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/11/2014
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2000
Event Time Zone Atlantic Daylight Time
Event City Prudhoe Bay
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99734
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 692132N
Event Location Longitude 1484203W
Event Location Airport N/A
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1953 AKD
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID PASC
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation AKD
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 11000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 9000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.55
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source NTSB Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 17 2014 6:37PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3971Z
NTSB Number ANC14CA053
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA 18-150
Aircraft Series Identifier A150
Aircraft Serial Number 18-7888
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 2
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 19 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 6827
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name OREAR MICHAEL T
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City WASILLA
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 996543538
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name OREAR MICHAEL T
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City WASILLA
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 996543538
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Prudhoe Bay
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1930
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Prudhoe Bay
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 17 2014 6:37PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --