Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance which resulted in the airplane colliding with a tree and a berm.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On December 1, 2002, about 1530 Alaska standard time, a Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N7002Z, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a tree during the landing roll on a logging road, about 20 statute miles southeast of Chenega Bay, 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 solo airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on December 9, the pilot said the accident airplane was parked on a beach in San Juan Bay, Montague Island, Alaska, when he noticed an approaching storm. The pilot said he decided to reposition the airplane on a logging road away from the beach. During the landing roll on the logging road, the right wing struck a tree, and as the airplane turned sharply to the right, the left main landing gear struck a berm and collapsed, allowing the left wing to impact the ground. The airplane sustained damage to both wings, the left landing gear, and propeller.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC03LA017