# NTSB ANC01LA015: Piper PA-18, N24149, White Mountain, AK, November 7, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 7, 2000, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: White Mountain, AK
- Coordinates: 64.680732, -163.409515 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.6807&lon=-163.4095&mi=10
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 50611
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA015
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50611/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA015

## Probable cause

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing.  A factor in the accident was the presence of weak ice.

## Analysis

The commercial certificated pilot reported he is conducting research at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.  As part of his research, the pilot was conducting a survey of caribou.  The pilot said he landed on the surface of a frozen lake in a tundra tire equipped airplane, and was taxiing toward the shore.  As the airplane neared the shoreline, the airplane tires broke through the ice.  The airplane received damage to the right landing gear strut, and the right wing lift strut was bent.

## Factual narrative

On November 7, 2000, about 1430 Alaska standard time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N24149, sustained substantial damage while taxiing after landing on a remote lake, about 22 miles north of White Mountain, Alaska, about latitude 64 degrees, 59.4 minutes north, and longitude 163 degrees, 55.0 minutes west.  The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred.  The airplane was operated by the pilot.  The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  A VFR flight plan was filed.  The flight originated at the Nome Airport, Nome, Alaska, about 1130.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on November 8, 2000, the pilot reported he is conducting research at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, and as part of that research, he was surveying caribou in the Fish River Flats area near the Arathlatuluk River.  The pilot said he landed on the surface of a frozen lake, and was taxiing toward the shore.  As the airplane neared the shoreline, the airplane tires broke through the ice.  The airplane received damage to the right landing gear strut and the right wing lift strut.

The pilot did not submit a Pilot/Operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2).

## Aircraft

- Registration: N24149 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-18
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-8109001
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Registered owner: Timothy E. Smith
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: PAOM, NOME, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 6,000 total, 3,500 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 25 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20001107017139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001107017139A), Nov 7, 2000: Piper PA18150, Walla Walla, AK, No damage. (-23) At about 1430 local time Mr. Smith landed on a frozen lake on the fish river flats. As he was taxiing up to the shore his right maingear broke through…

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.

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