N7164B

On February 17, 2000, about 1130 Alaska standard time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N7164B, sustained substantial damage during landing at a remote area, about 20 miles west-southwest of Willow, Alaska, at latitude 61 degrees, 47.60 minutes north, and longitude 150 degrees, 43.17 minutes west. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The commercial certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Birchwood Airport, Chugiak, Alaska, about 1100.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on February 18, 2000, the pilot reported he landed along the Yentna River the previous day to assist the passenger in locating a lost snow machine. Overnight, about 4 to 6 inches of snow fell in the area. On the accident date, the pilot landed in his tracks from the previous day. During the landing roll, he said the new snow layer slowed the airplane dramatically, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane received damage to the vertical stabilizer, the rudder, and the left wing lift strut.