# NTSB ANC09CA099: Piper PA-18, N9840Q, Chickaloon, AK, September 16, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 15, 2009, 17:00 local (Sep 16, 2009, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Chickaloon, AK - Coordinates: 61.992778, -148.298049 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.9928&lon=-148.2980&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 19, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration (Operations) - NTSB case key (mKey): 74750 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09CA099 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74750/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74750 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09CA099 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to land on unsuitable terrain, which resulted in a nose-over on landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo airline transport pilot reported he was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane at an 800-foot-long off-airport, gravel-covered site, at the conclusion of a Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that during the landing roll the main wheels sunk into an area of soft, rough terrain, and the airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings, lift struts, fuselage and empennage. He reported that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The solo airline transport pilot reported he was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane at an 800-foot-long off-airport, gravel-covered site, at the conclusion of a Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that during the landing roll the main wheels sunk into an area of soft, rough terrain, and the airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings, lift struts, fuselage and empennage. He reported that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9840Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9840Q), registered now, S/N 18-3379 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-135) (registry code 7101820) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-3379 - Airframe hours: 3686 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Raymond E. Street - Registered owner: Raymond E. Street Jr, Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 8, 2008, 3,686 hours before - Departed: 0AK1, Wasilla, AK - Destination: Chickaloon, AK - Airport: runway 18 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 13,300 total, 100 in this make and model, 89 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °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 20090915049559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090915049559A), Sep 15, 2009: Piper PA-18-135, Chickaloon, AK, Substantial damage. The airman landed on a gravel airstrip in Chickaloon, Alaska. During the rollout phase, the aircraft nosed over after encountering an unforseen soft spot on… ## Other investigations on N9840Q (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 ANC78DAG07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC78DAG07), Nov 9, 1977: Piper PA-18 (N9840Q), Dadina River, AK, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 9, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74750. 620 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 620 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321070&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.