ANC09CA076

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-18 · Skwentna, AK · August 2, 2009

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
August 1, 2009, 18:00 local (Aug 2, 2009, 02:00 UTC)
Place
Skwentna, AK
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N7509KPiper PA-18
Defining event
Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision during takeoff/land
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 29, 2009
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Alaska Regional Office
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration (Airworthiness)
FAA report
20090801047969A
Case key
74435

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 misjudged landing on a downsloping, short landing strip, resulting in a nose over.

Findings · 3

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfaceEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operationAll aircraft: 253 cases
Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide pathAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedAll aircraft: 809 casesProbable cause
Info processing/decision: decision making/judgmentPersonnel issues › Action/decision · PilotAll aircraft: 3,098 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The private pilot reported that he was landing his tailwheel-equipped airplane at his remote, 650-foot-long private airstrip, at the conclusion of a personal cross-country flight operated under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. He said that wind conditions required an easterly approach, over an area of stump-covered, down sloping terrain. During the approach, the airplane’s right main wheel struck a tree stump at the approach end of the site, and the airplane subsequently nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. In his written report to the NTSB, the pilot noted that the accident might have been avoided if he had waited until wind conditions allowed for a different approach, or if he had waited to reduce engine power after clearance with the stump was ensured.

Factual narrative

The private pilot reported that he was landing his tailwheel-equipped airplane at his remote, 650-foot long private airstrip, at the conclusion of a personal cross-country flight operated under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. He said that wind conditions required an easterly approach, over an area of stump-covered, down- sloping terrain. During the approach, the airplane’s right main wheel struck a tree stump at the approach end of the site, and the airplane subsequently nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. In his written report to the NTSB the pilot noted that the accident might have been avoided if he had waited until wind conditions allowed for a different approach, or if he had waited to reduce engine power after clearance with the stump was ensured.

Aircraft

Registration
N7509K
Reported as
Piper PA-18
Category
Airplane
Serial number
18223
Engine
Lycoming O-290 SERIES, 140 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Nord Derek D
Registered owner
Nord Derek D
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
MRI · Anchorage, AK
Destination
Skwentna, AK
Airport
runway 09

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
38
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Front
Flight hours
270 total · 270 in this make and model · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
90° at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Temperature
61 °F

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 25, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 641 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.