# NTSB ANC05CA080: Piper PA-18, N1087A, Delta Junction, AK, May 23, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 23, 2005, 10:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Delta Junction, AK - Coordinates: 64.411109, -143.73056 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.4111&lon=-143.7306&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-FAI FSDO 01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 61657 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05CA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61657/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA080 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in an overrun. A factor contributing to the accident was rough and uneven terrain. ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was transporting hunting and camp supplies to a remote area in support of a hunting party. He landed the tundra tire-equipped airplane on a remote mountain ridge where previous wheel tracks were visible. During the landing roll, the pilot said that when he applied the brakes, the large tundra tires began to bounce over the rough terrain, and he was being careful not to apply excessive braking action. The airplane overran the pilot's intended landing area, and the right main tire encountered a depression. The right wing and propeller struck the ground. The aircraft mechanic who repaired the airplane reported that he repaired the leading edge of the right wing, and replaced a wing nose rib. ## Factual narrative On May 23, 2005, about 1000 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N1087A, sustained substantial damage when it encountered rough terrain at a remote landing area, about 56 miles northeast of Delta Junction, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country air taxi flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot under the business name of WRAM, Fairbanks, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Chena Marina Airport, Fairbanks, about 0830. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 6, the pilot reported that he was transporting hunting and camp supplies to a remote area in support of a three-person hunting party. He said that he landed on a mountain ridge where previous wheel tracks were visible. During the landing roll, the pilot said that when he applied the brakes, the large tundra tires began to bounce over the rough terrain, and he was being careful not to apply excessive braking action. The airplane overran the pilot's intended landing area, and the right main tire encountered a depression. The right wing and propeller struck the ground. The pilot indicated that after examining the airplane for signs of extreme damage, and finding none, he flew the airplane to the Dry Creek Airstrip where the hunting clients were waiting for transport. During a telephone conversation on June 6, with the aircraft mechanic who repaired the airplane, the mechanic reported that he replaced a wing nose rib in the right wing, and repaired the leading edge of the wing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - brakes(normal) - not used, pilot in command (cause) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - Nose down, landing - roll ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1087A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1087A), registered now, S/N 18-673, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-673 - Airframe hours: 5835 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Patrick Valkenburg - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: AK28, Fairbanks, AK - Destination: Delta Junction, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 11,300 total, 3,200 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °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 20050523011229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050523011229A), May 23, 2005: Piper PA18, Tok, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot reported flying cargo for clients from chena marina strip to ridge top, south harper strip (position noted in blocks 10A and 10B), saw tire tracks… ## Other investigations on N1087A (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 ANC72DAG28](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC72DAG28), Aug 19, 1971: Piper PA-18 (N1087A), Cantwell, AK, substantial damage 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.