Summary
On August 29, 1994, a Piper PA-18 (N4478A) was involved in an incident near Skwentna, AK. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: THE PILOT'S SELECTING A GRAVEL BAR FOR A NORMAL LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE SOFT SPOT IN THE GRAVEL BAR.
On August 29, 1994, at 1500 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N4478A, registered to and operated by Henry J. Orth of Anchorage, Alaska, nosed over during the landing roll on a gravel bar located at the confluence of the Hartman River and South Fork of the Kuskokwim River. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed a field site for a local hunting flight. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane received substantial damage.
According to the pilot he landed on a gravel bar and during the landing roll, while applying brake pressure, the airplane's wheels hit a soft spot and the airplane nosed over.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC94LA116. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N4478A.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
THE PILOT'S SELECTING A GRAVEL BAR FOR A NORMAL LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE SOFT SPOT IN THE GRAVEL BAR.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On August 29, 1994, at 1500 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N4478A, registered to and operated by Henry J. Orth of Anchorage, Alaska, nosed over during the landing roll on a gravel bar located at the confluence of the Hartman River and South Fork of the Kuskokwim River. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed a field site for a local hunting flight. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane received substantial damage.
According to the pilot he landed on a gravel bar and during the landing roll, while applying brake pressure, the airplane's wheels hit a soft spot and the airplane nosed over.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC94LA116