- Date
- June 30, 2008, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Wasilla, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2951MPiper PA-12
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 28, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 20080630857719A
- Case key
- 68351
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 NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings.
Analysis
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he was landing to the south on a grass-covered off-airport site. He said that during touchdown the airplane's main wheels contacted an area of tall grass, which "grabbed the wheels", and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, lift struts, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported winds to be 150 degrees at 10 knots at the time of the accident. He noted in his written report to the NTSB that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he was landing to the south on a grass-covered off-airport site. He said that during touchdown the airplane's main wheels contacted an area of tall grass, which "grabbed the wheels", and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, lift struts, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported winds to be 150 degrees at 10 knots at the time of the accident. He noted in his written report to the NTSB that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2951M
- Reported as
- Piper PA-12
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 12-1346
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2B, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Richard L. Rios
- Registered owner
- Richard L. Rios
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- MRL · Anchorage, AK
- Destination
- Wasilla, AK
- Airport
- runway 36, grass/turf
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
- 63
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 1, 2006
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 2,032 total · 1,950 in this make and model · 1,960 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- 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.