N82047

On August 5, 2001, about 1315 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18-160 airplane, N82047, sustained substantial damage while landing at the Nugget Bench Airstrip, located about 28 miles northwest of Talkeetna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The certificated commercial pilot, and the one passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated about 1200, from the Six Mile Lake Airstrip, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Anchorage, Alaska.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on August 6, the pilot reported that he was landing on runway 01, which required a correction for a slight left crosswind. The pilot stated that during the landing roll, the airplane veered slightly to the right. He said that as he added left rudder, in conjunction with left brake to correct the veer, the airplane ground looped to the left, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The right wing struck the surface of the airstrip, and sustained substantial damage.

The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.