Summary
On February 17, 2000, a Piper PA-18 (N7164B) was involved in an incident near Willow, AK. All 2 people 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 selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. Factors in the accident were soft, snow covered terrain.
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.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC00LA028. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N7164B.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. Factors in the accident were soft, snow covered terrain.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
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.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC00LA028