Summary
On March 19, 2011, a Piper PA-18A 150 (N3573P) was involved in an incident near Beluga Lake, 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 decision to land on unsuitable terrain, resulting in the airplane nosing over.
The pilot stated that he was landing the ski-equipped airplane on a glacier when the left ski caught in the snow, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The left wing and the vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage.
The airplane was equipped with a required emergency locator transmitter (ELT), however, it was an older generation ELT that transmitted on 121.5 megahertz, not the newer, digital version that transmits on 406 megahertz. As of February 1, 2009, the search and rescue satellites that receive ELT signals no longer had the capability to receive the older analog 121.5 megahertz ELTs.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC11CA020. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N3573P.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's decision to land on unsuitable terrain, resulting in the airplane nosing over.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The pilot stated that he was landing the ski-equipped airplane on a glacier when the left ski caught in the snow, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The left wing and the vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage.
The airplane was equipped with a required emergency locator transmitter (ELT), however, it was an older generation ELT that transmitted on 121.5 megahertz, not the newer, digital version that transmits on 406 megahertz. As of February 1, 2009, the search and rescue satellites that receive ELT signals no longer had the capability to receive the older analog 121.5 megahertz ELTs. The 406 megahertz ELTs are received within seconds of activation, and rescuers are notified within minutes of the accident location. In this accident, the pilot was missing for four days, but was able to hike off the glacier, where he was located by rescuers.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC11CA020