- Date
- December 21, 2005, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Skwentna, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N237WTPiper PA-18
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 25, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- Case key
- 63115
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area, which resulted in an on ground collision with trees during the landing roll. Factors associated with the accident were the icy and snow-covered terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The solo private pilot was landing a ski-equipped airplane on a frozen, snow-covered lake that was surrounded by trees. The pilot said that after touchdown, the airplane continued to slide on the icy, hard-packed snow, and subsequently collided with a stand of trees at the lake's edge. The airplane sustained structural damage to both wings. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Factual narrative
The solo private pilot was landing a ski-equipped airplane on a frozen, snow-covered lake that was surrounded by trees. The pilot said that after touchdown, the airplane continued to slide on the icy, hard-packed snow, and subsequently collided with a stand of trees at the lake's edge. The airplane sustained structural damage to both wings. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N237WT
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-237
- Airframe hours
- 5,394.7
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Scott M. Gage
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 1, 2005
- Departed
- Skwentna, AK
- Destination
- Skwentna, AK
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 500 total · 450 in this make and model · 500 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,500 ft overcast
Other investigations on N237WT · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.