# Accident 19970826024009A: Piper PA18, Palmer, AK, August 26, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 26, 1997, 14:00 local time
- Place: Palmer, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.6202° N, 148.9792° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6202&lon=-148.9792&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9771D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9771D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18-150 (registry code 7101828, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA18
- Reported engine: LYC O320A2A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 30,379 total, 332 in this make and model, 19 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC97LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA132) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970826024009A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON LANDING. (.19)  ON AUGUST 26, 1997, AT 1400 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A TUNDRA TIRE EQUIPPED PIPER PA-18 AIRPLANE, N9771D, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT NOSED OVER DURING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS AT A GRAVEL LANDING STRIP ON THE KNIK RIVER, FIVE MILES SOUTH OF PALMER, ALASKA.  THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH 30 INCH TUNDRA TIRES. THE SOLO AIRLINE TRANSPORT CERTIFICATED PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES.  THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PILOT TOLD THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR THAT HE INTENDED TO WARM THE ENGINE FOR AN OIL CHANGE.  HE DEPARTED THE SKY RANCH PRIVATE AIRSTRIP SUBDIVISION IN PALMER AT 1357 AND FLEW TO THE GRAVEL, OFF AIRPORT LANDING SITE, TO PERFORM TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS.  DURING THE FIRST LANDING, THE AIRPLANE VEERED LEFT, AND THE PILOT APPLIED FULL RIGHT RUDDER AND BRAKE.  THE TAIL SUBSEQUENTLY CAME UP, BEGAN TO SETTLE, THEN THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE HEAVY SCUFF MARKS IN THE GRAVEL WHERE THE LEFT TIRE HAD TOUCHED DOWN, INDICATING HEAVY BRAK                                              ING. HE DESCRIBED ROTATING THE WHEELS ON THE INVERTED AIRPLANE BY HAND, AND THAT THE LEFT TIRE ROTATED SOMEWHAT NORMALLY, BUT STOPPED MORE QUICKLY THAN THE RIGHT.  THE PILOT INDICATED ON HIS NTSB PILOT/OPERATOR REPORT THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.                             (.4) DURING THE FIRST LANDING AT AN OFF-AIRPORT, GRAVEL, LANDING SITE, THE AIRPLANE VEERED LEFT. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL RIGHT RUDDER AND BRAKE, AND AFT STICK. THE TAIL BEGAN TO SETTLE, THEN CAME BACK UP. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK. SCUFF MARKS IN THE GRAVEL INDICATED HEAVY BRAKING FROM THE LEFT TIRE. WHILE INVERTED, BOTH WHEELS COULD BE ROTATED, BUT THE LEFT WHEEL EXHIBITED MORE DRAG THAN THE RIGHT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC97LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA132), Aug 26, 1997: Piper PA-18 (N9771D), Palmer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: binding or braking action of the left brake for undetermined reason(s).

## Other reports on N9771D (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20100821044009I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100821044009I), Aug 21, 2010: Piper PA-18-150 (N9771D), Palmer, AK, Minor damage. Airman reported that while landing his aircraft in gusty winds on a gravel bar his aircraft became slow and developed a high sink rate. The aircraft contacted…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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