Summary
On June 16, 2004, a Piper PA-18 (N18ZF) was involved in an incident near Mcgrath, 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, which resulted in the airplane nosing over during the landing roll. A factor contributing to the accident was the presence of soft tundra.
On June 16, 2004, about 1000 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N18ZF, sustained substantial damage when it encountered soft terrain and nosed over during the landing roll in a remote area, about 24 miles north-northwest of McGrath, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, 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 McGrath Airport about 0930.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC04LA065. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N18ZF.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in the airplane nosing over during the landing roll. A factor contributing to the accident was the presence of soft tundra.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On June 16, 2004, about 1000 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N18ZF, sustained substantial damage when it encountered soft terrain and nosed over during the landing roll in a remote area, about 24 miles north-northwest of McGrath, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, 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 McGrath Airport about 0930. No flight plan was filed, nor was one required.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 16, the pilot reported that he was landing in an open area of tundra next to a creek. As the airplane touched down, the pilot said he realized that the tundra surface was soft and wet. During the landing roll, the main landing gear tires dug into the soft terrain, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot, who is a certificated aviation mechanic, reported that the airplane received damage to the left wing lift strut, the rudder, and the vertical stabilizer.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC04LA065