Summary
On August 31, 2009, a Piper PA-18-150 (N743) was involved in an incident near Bethel, 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 excessive use of brakes while landing at an off-airport site.
On August 30, 2009, about 1750 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel equipped, Piper PA-18 airplane, N743, sustained substantial damage when it nosed down during landing at an off-airport site, about 25 miles southeast of Bethel, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, in support of a law enforcement mission, as a visual flight rules (VFR) public use flight, under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC09TA090. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N743.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's excessive use of brakes while landing at an off-airport site.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On August 30, 2009, about 1750 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel equipped, Piper PA-18 airplane, N743, sustained substantial damage when it nosed down during landing at an off-airport site, about 25 miles southeast of Bethel, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, in support of a law enforcement mission, as a visual flight rules (VFR) public use flight, under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The airplane departed Bethel about 1415.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 31, a spokesperson for the Fish and Wildlife Service said the pilot reported applying the brakes heavily during landing, and the airplane nosed down. He said there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident, and that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage during the accident.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC09TA090