- Date
- May 6, 2010, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Cape Yakataga, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N90918Piper PA-18-150
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Miscellaneous/other
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 12, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration (Airworthiness)
- Case key
- 76039
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 uncertificated pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing site, resulting in a main landing gear collapse during the landing roll.
Findings · 4
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.
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 uncertificated pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane, with one passenger at a remote, rough and uneven off-airport site, at the completion of a Title 14, CFR Part 91, business flight. Witnesses noted that during the landing roll the airplane's right main wheel struck a log, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The right wing and right horizontal stabilizer struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, right wing lift struts, empennage, and fuselage. Due to the remote location the airplane has not been examined by the NTSB.
Factual narrative
The uncertificated pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane with one passenger at a remote, rough, and uneven off-airport site at the completion of a Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, business flight. Witnesses noted that during the landing roll the airplane's right main wheel struck a log and the right main landing gear collapsed. The right wing and right horizontal stabilizer struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, right wing lift struts, empennage, and fuselage. The pilot did not submit the required 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N90918
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-8109044
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Michael A. Roberts
- Registered owner
- Richard O. Bennett
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Cape Yakataga, AK
- Destination
- Cape Yakataga, AK
- Flight plan
- Unknown
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
- 48
- Injuries
- None
- Flight hours
- 1 total · 1 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 32 KB in all.
Other investigations on N90918 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.