N1602A

On July 9, 1998, about 1330 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N1602A, sustained substantial damage after landing in a remote area, about 25 miles east of Palmer, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, the pilot. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Palmer Airport, Palmer, Alaska, about 1300.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on July 11, 1998, at 0905, the pilot reported he landed near the Knik River to look for two friends. After landing, the pilot was taxiing toward a takeoff position. The main landing gear entered a small ditch. The tail of the airplane was elevated in relation to the nose, and a gust of wind caught the tail. The airplane nosed over, and received damage to the left wing, and left wing lift strut. The pilot said the wind conditions were from the east at 8 to 10 knots, with gusts from 15 to 20 knots.