# Accident 20000625042579A: Piper PA18, Nikiski, AK, June 25, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 25, 2000, 20:00 local time
- Place: Nikiski, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 60.6903° N, 151.2889° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Nikiski, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.6903&lon=-151.2889&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7437, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7437) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18 (registry code 7101802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (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
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 375 total, 128 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC00LA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA080) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000625042579A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE LANDING FLARE ON THE 900 FEET LONG BY 50 FEET WIDE GRAVEL AIRSTRIP, 28 MILES WEST-NORTHWEST OF NIKISKI, A BEAR RAN ONTO THE LANDING AREA APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET IN FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH ONE WHEEL ALREADY TOUCHED DOWN. THE PILOT SAID SHE MANEUVERED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND APPLIED POWER TO AVOID THE BEAR. THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED BRUSH, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS PULLED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH WINGTIPS AND THE TAIL ASSEMBLY. THE PILOT DID STATE THAT SHE OVERFLEW THE STRIP TO DETERMINE WIND (MILD) AND THAT THE APPROACH WAS NORMAL, LANDING WITHIN THE FIRST 1/4 OF THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. WE DISCUSSED OPTIONS, HOWEVER, SHE STATED THAT SHE FELT THAT THERE WAS NO OTHER OPTION DUE TO THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE BEAR TO HER AIRCRAFT IN AN ALMOST FULL TOUCHDOWN CONDITION.

## 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 ANC00LA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA080), Jun 26, 2000: Piper PA-18 (N7437), Nikiski, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A bear running onto the landing area during the landing flare. A factor associated with the accident was the high vegetation on the edge of the airstrip.

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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