ANC00LA045

The certificated private pilot reported that while in cruise flight, the oil dip stick access door opened. He said that he elected to land at a snow-covered, nonmaintained airstrip, and close the door. The pilot reported that while landing to the west, the main wheels contacted deep snow on the runway, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and engine firewall assembly.

On April 14, 2000, about 1025 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 150M airplane, N6446K, sustained substantial damage while landing at Sheep Mountain airstrip, located about 27 miles east of Chickaloon, Alaska, at 61 degrees 48 minutes north latitude, 147 degrees 30 minutes west longitude. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Palmer Municipal Airport, Palmer, about 0930.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on April 14, the pilot reported that he had rented the airplane with the intention of flying from Palmer to the Sheep Mountain area, and return. He added that he had not planned to land at the Sheep Mountain airstrip. He said that after flying over the Sheep Mountain area, and while on his way back to the Palmer Airport, the oil dip stick access door opened. He said that he decided to return to the Sheep Mountain airstrip, close the door, and return to Palmer. The pilot reported that while landing to the west, the main wheels contacted deep snow on the runway, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and engine firewall assembly.

The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.