20000422042109A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-18 · Mccarthy, AK · April 22, 2000

Date: April 22, 2000 · 17:30 local
Place: Mccarthy, AK
Airport: Mccarthy Nr2 Airport
Phase of flight: Ground Taxi, Other Airplane
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N1200A
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC00LA049
Reported as: Piper PA18
Reported engine: Lycoming O320B2B
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 7,800 total450 in this make and model10 in the last 90 days

N1200ARegistered now · Piper PA-18S/N 18-1200 · Built 1951 Airframe modelPiper PA-18 Engine modelLycoming 0-290 series4 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) According to the pilot, the wind was strong and gusty at the time of the accident. After landing, the pilot taxied to the tie-down area and proceeded to line up in the tie-down. As the aircraft started to turn into the tie-down a strong gust of wind picked the tail of the aircraft off the ground and immediately started to nose over. The aircraft teetered in the nose down position for a moment before continuing over on the top. While interviewing the pilot, she was asked if she could have done anything different to avoid the accident. She stated that she could have been more aware of what she was doing and the possibility of fatigue. The pilot counseling included: ground handling characteristics of tail dragger aircraft during strong gusty wind conditions. The dangers associated with complacency; and recognizing the signs of fatigue.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE WIND WAS STRONG AND GUSTY AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. AFTER LANDING, THE PILOT TAXIED TO THE TIE-DOWN AREA AND PROCEEDED TO LINE UP IN THE TIE-DOWN. AS THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO TURN INTO THE TIE-DOWN A STRONG GUST OF WIND PICKED THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT OFF THE GROUND AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO NOSE OVER. THE AIRCRAFT TEETERED IN THE NOSE DOWN POSITION FOR A MOMENT BEFORE CONTINUING OVER ON THE TOP. WHILE INTERVIEWING THE PILOT, SHE WAS ASKED IF SHE COULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING DIFFERENT TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT. SHE STATED THAT SHE COULD HAVE BEEN MORE AWARE OF WHAT SHE WAS DOING AND THE POSSIBILITY OF FATIGUE. THE PILOT COUNSELING INCLUDED: GROUND HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS OF TAIL DRAGGER AIRCRAFT DURING STRONG GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS. THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH COMPLACENCY; AND RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS OF FATIGUE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC00LA049Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMccarthy, AKThe pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty wind conditions. A factor associated with the accident was the wind gusts.Apr 23, 2000 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N1200A · 1

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

Accident 19930809029119ARoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Bermard Glacier, AKTransporting goat hunters. Nosed over on Glacier strip due rough strip and too much braking. STC not authorized.Aug 9, 1993 · Substantial damage