Summary
On July 16, 1997, a Piper PA-18 (N83675) was involved in an accident near Gakona, AK. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury, with 1 person uninjured out of 2 aboard. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing.
On July 16, 1997, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N83675, crashed during landing on remote mountainous terrain, about 20 miles east of Gakona, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand passenger flight under Title 14 CFR Part 135 when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by McMahan Guide and Flying Service, Gakona, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot received minor injuries. The sole passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect.
This accident is documented in NTSB report ANC97LA104. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N83675.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On July 16, 1997, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N83675, crashed during landing on remote mountainous terrain, about 20 miles east of Gakona, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand passenger flight under Title 14 CFR Part 135 when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by McMahan Guide and Flying Service, Gakona, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot received minor injuries. The sole passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at Gakona about 1230.
On July 16, 1997, at 1807, the pilot reported in a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), he was landing on a rocky mountain ridge of Mount Drum, at 5,400 feet mean sea level. The landing area was about 600 feet long, and 50 feet wide. The pilot was landing in a westerly direction and during the landing touch down, the right main gear tire struck a rock. The right main gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane received damage to the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot described the wind conditions as light and variable.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC97LA104