# NTSB ANC01LA072: Arctic S-1B2, N61AT, Petersburg, AK, June 24, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 24, 2001, 10:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Petersburg, AK - Coordinates: 56.75, -132.933334 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=56.7500&lon=-132.9333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 53202 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53202/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA072 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area. A factor associated with the accident was soft terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - Nose down, landing - roll ## Analysis The certificated private pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane on a sand-covered beach. During the landing roll the main landing gear wheels contacted an area of soft sand, and the airplane nosed down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut. ## Factual narrative On June 24, 2001, about 1000 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Arctic Aircraft S-1B2 airplane, N61AT, sustained substantial damage while landing at an off airport site, about 30 miles north of Petersburg, Alaska. The certificated private pilot, and the one passenger aboard, were not injured. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated about 0930, from the Petersburg Airport, Petersburg. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on June 25, the pilot reported that during the landing roll on a sand-covered beach, the main landing gear wheels contacted an area of soft sand, and the airplane nosed down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61AT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N61AT), registered now, S/N 1012, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Arctic Aircraft Corp. S-1B2 - Registry model: [Arctic S-1B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/arctic-s-1b2) (registry code 0790208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1012 - Airframe hours: 1847 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David W. Cushing - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 7, 2000, 34.5 hours before - Departed: PSG, Petersburg, AK - Destination: PSG, Petersburg, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 15, 1999; seat: front; flight hours: 787 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Temperature: 50 °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 20010624039319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010624039319A), Jun 24, 2001: Arctic S1B2, Petersburg, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On rollout after a beach landing, right wheel contacted a soft area of water over sand and aircraft inverted, engine was in a power down mode and prop… ## Other investigations on N61AT (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 ANC01LA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA112), Aug 11, 2001: Arctic S-1B2 (N61AT), Wrangell, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather conditions during a downwind landing at a remote lake. Factors in the accident were a downdraft, rough/uneven terrain, and the pilot's inadequate… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.