N7051

On August 11, 2007, about 1330 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N7051, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during the landing roll at an off-airport site, about 58 miles southwest of McGrath, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country government-operated flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The State of Alaska, Department of Public Safety, Fish and Wildlife Service, operated the airplane. The sole occupant, an Alaska State Trooper who held a private pilot certificate, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect.

According to the pilot's written statement included in the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the operator, the pilot reported that he was landing at a 1,500-foot long gavel-covered site, at the conclusion of a routine aerial game patrol. The pilot stated that during the landing roll, he applied the airplane's brakes in conjunction with moving the elevator control stick forward, in an attempt to dampen the effects of the rough and uneven terrain. The pilot wrote, in part: "Too much forward stick was applied, causing the aircraft to roll onto its nose, striking the prop and spinner and eventually coming to rest upside-down." The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and right wing. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.