NTSB Factual Report

On September 3, 2004, about 1326 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N82353, sustained substantial damage following a loss of directional control while landing on runway 03 at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska. The solo private pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 local personal flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated at Merrill Field about 1215.

During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on September 7, the pilot related that during the landing roll on the gravel-surfaced runway, as the airplane was nearly stopped, a gust of wind from the left (west) pushed the airplane to the right. He said he attempted to correct to the left, but a second gust pushed the airplane to the right again, and the airplane went off the runway, encountered a shallow ditch, and nosed over. The airplane received structural damage to the rudder and wing lift struts. The pilot noted there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.

A Special Weather Observation taken at Merrill Field immediately following the accident, noted that the wind was from 290 True (266 magnetic) at 15 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to compensate for a crosswind during the landing roll, and his failure to maintain directional control which resulted in a loss of control, an encounter with a ditch, and the airplane nosing over. A factor in the accident was a crosswind.