# Accident 20131010021169A: Piper J3C-65, Talkeetna, AK, October 10, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 10, 2013, 13:50 local time
- Place: Talkeetna, AK
- Airport: Bear Creek
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 62.6189° N, 150.9589° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.6189&lon=-150.9589&mi=10
- Aircraft: N70604, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N70604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J3C-65 (registry code 7100510, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C85 series (registry code 17008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 9,000 total, 600 in this make and model, 210 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC14CA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14CA004) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131010021169A

## Narrative

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

DURING AN ATTEMPTED LANDING AT BEAR CREEK STRIP, AN UNIMPROVED 1600 FOOT STRIP LOCATED AT 2455 FEET ELEVATION, THE AIRMAN UNDERESTIMATED THE DEPTH OF FRESHLY FALLEN SNOW THAT CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO FLIP OVER DURING LANDING ROLL.  THE DAY PRIOR TO DEPARTING TO BEAR CREEK STRIP, THE AIRMAN HAD BEGUN EVALUATING THE SNOW LINE ON THE MOUNTAINS AS WELL AS THE WEATHER TRENDS.  ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRMAN NOTED THAT IT HAD SNOWED THAT EVENING; HOWEVER, THE SNOW LINE STILL APPEARED TO BE ABOVE THE ELEVATION OF BEAR CREEK STRIP.  THE AIRMAN RECEIVED A STANDARD FAA BRIEF AND ELECTED TO FLY TO THE STRIP TO ?CHECK IT OUT?.  UPON REACHING THE STRIP, THE AIRMAN NOTED THE STRIP DID HAVE FRESH SNOW COVER AND DECIDED TO DRAG IT WITH HIS 26 INCH TIRES.  ON THE THIRD PASS, THE AIRMAN FELT THE SNOW DEPTH WAS WITHIN HIS AND THE AIRCRAFT?S LIMITS AND DECIDED TO LAND.  WHEN THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED TO AN ESTIMATED 20 MILES PER HOUR, THE AIRMAN RECALLS TIRES FELT LIKE THEY SUNK FURTHER INTO THE SNOW, THE TAIL ROSE UP AND THE AIRCRAFT PROCEEDED TO FLIP OVER IN SLOW MOTION, DAMAGING THE PROP AND THE RUDDER.  THE AIRMAN, SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT, WAS UNINJURED AND HAD TO MANUALLY ACTIVATE THE ELT.  THE AIRMAN DID FILE AN FAA FLIGHT PLAN AND WAS EVACUATED THE NEXT AFTERNOON.

## 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 ANC14CA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14CA004), Oct 10, 2013: Piper J3C 65 (N70604), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to make contact with an unsuitable landing surface, resulting in a nose over.

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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