Summary
On September 05, 2000, a Piper PA-18 (N3774Z) was involved in an incident near Ruby, 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 inadvertent ground loop/swerve during the landing roll.
On September 4, 2000, about 2100 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18 tundra tire equipped airplane, N3774Z, sustained substantial damage when it ground looped during landing on an off airport gravel bar on the Malozitna River, Alaska, at 65 degrees, 27.06 minutes north latitude, 154 degrees, 29.06 minutes west longitude, about 60 miles north of Ruby, Alaska. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, as a hunter guide business flight. The weather at the time of the accident was clear, with calm winds, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, and the empennage.
According to the pilot, he performed a wheel landing, and the airplane's nose swerved to the right.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC00LA114. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N3774Z.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's inadvertent ground loop/swerve during the landing roll.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On September 4, 2000, about 2100 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18 tundra tire equipped airplane, N3774Z, sustained substantial damage when it ground looped during landing on an off airport gravel bar on the Malozitna River, Alaska, at 65 degrees, 27.06 minutes north latitude, 154 degrees, 29.06 minutes west longitude, about 60 miles north of Ruby, Alaska. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, as a hunter guide business flight. The weather at the time of the accident was clear, with calm winds, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, and the empennage.
According to the pilot, he performed a wheel landing, and the airplane's nose swerved to the right. He said when he applied the booster brakes, the nose continued to the right, and the airplane ground looped. The pilot stated he believed the right brake locked up. According to the airplane owner, the pilot was landing on a 1,500 feet long by 100 feet wide gravel bar, and attempted to stop the airplane quickly to make a short turnoff.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC00LA114