# NTSB ANC02LA116: Piper PA-18, N2410P, Nikolai, AK, September 5, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 4, 2002, 18:00 local (Sep 5, 2002, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Nikolai, AK - Coordinates: 62.84, -154.036666 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.8400&lon=-154.0367&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 55669 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA116 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55669/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA116 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain while taxiing for takeoff, which precipitated an on ground collision with a tree stump. Factors contributing to the accident were soft terrain and the presence of tree stumps. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was taxiing the tundra tire-equipped airplane along the edge of a remote river in preparation for takeoff. The gravel area he was using had several tree stumps along the river bank. The pilot said that while taxiing, the right main landing gear tire entered a small, soft, depression. The right wing dipped downward and struck a tree stump, and received damage to the leading edge and the rear spar. ## Factual narrative On September 4, 2002, about 1800 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N2410P, sustained substantial damage when the right wing struck a tree stump while taxiing for takeoff from a remote, off-airport site, about 13 miles east-southeast of Nikolai, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a Title 14, CFR Part 91 visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The commercial certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 5, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel reported the pilot had contacted an over-flying airplane via radio to report the airplane disabled. On September 6, the pilot telephoned the NTSB IIC and reported that he was taxiing in preparation for takeoff along the edge of the south fork of the Kuskokwim River. The gravel area he was utilizing had several tree stumps along the river bank. The pilot said that while taxiing, the right main landing gear tire entered a small, soft, depression. The right wing dipped downward and struck a tree stump. On September 10, the pilot reported that an examination of the right wing revealed damage to the leading edge and rear spar. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2410P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2410P), registered now, S/N 18-4277, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-4277 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: John A. Oney - Registered owner: William Perry - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: NIKOLAI, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 2, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 10,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 61 °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 20020904024559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020904024559A), Sep 4, 2002: Piper PA18150, Nikolai, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The airman was taxiing for takeoff and the right wheel went into an unseen hole causing damage to the right wing. 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.