N37HY

On September 3, 2009, about 1208 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel equipped, Aviat Husky A-1B airplane, N37HY, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during landing at an off airport site, about 19 miles east of Gulkana, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the U.S. Park Service, Department of Interior, 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.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on September 3, a spokesperson for the Park Service said the pilot was on a wildlife enforcement surveillance flight, and reported that the airplane nosed over during landing at the off airport site. He said there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident, and that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and vertical stabilizer.

In a written statement to the NTSB dated September 5, an investigator for the Department of the Interior, reported that the pilot said he had applied the brakes too hard during landing at the off-airport site, and the airplane nosed over.