# NTSB ANC96LA126: Piper PA-18-150, N2561N, Kotzebue, AK, July 13, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 13, 1996, 09:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Kotzebue, AK
- Coordinates: 67.239768, -161.18901 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.2398&lon=-161.1890&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 18, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 2882
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA126
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2882/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA126

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear - overload

## Analysis

The pilot reported directional control difficulties while landing the tundra tire equipped airplane at a rural airstrip used to support his mining activities.  The airplane's right main landing gear subsequently collapsed, and the right wing spar, right wing struts, and a portion of the fuselage were damaged.  The pilot elected to make temporary repairs to the landing gear by using water pipe, and to the lift struts by taping boards to them.  He ferried the airplane from the mining strip to Mc Grath, Alaska, where he obtained fuel. Upon departing Mc Grath, the main landing gear collapsed, and further damaged the airplane (NTSB Accident Report ANC96LA105).

## Factual narrative

On July 13, 1996, about 0900 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped  Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N2561N, sustained substantial damage while landing at a rural mining airstrip located 52 miles northeast of Kotzebue, Alaska. The solo, private pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated in Kotzebue, Alaska, about 0800.

The pilot reported that he was landing at a remote airstrip used to support his mining operation.  He said during a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on August 13, that the airplane's right main landing gear collapsed after he experienced some directional control problems during the landing roll.  After the right main gear collapsed, he said the right wing touched the ground, damaging the right wing spar, the right wing's lift struts, and the bottom stringer on the left side of the fuselage.

The pilot made temporary repairs to the airplane utilizing iron water pipe as a main landing gear leg, and by taping boards to the lift struts.  The airplane was then ferried from the mining strip to Mc Grath, Alaska, where the pilot stopped for fuel.  The main landing gear subsequently collapsed while he was taxiing for takeoff at Mc Grath.  See NTSB Accident Report ANC96LA105 for the Mc Grath accident information.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2561N (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-150
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-8009038
- Airframe hours: 3314
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Tyrrell G. Ross
- Registered owner: Arthur R. Field, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, August 3, 1995, 138 hours before
- Departed: OTZ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, expired; seat: front; flight hours: 4,335 total, 56 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °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 19960713034369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960713034369A), Jul 13, 1996: Piper PA18150, Kotzebue, AK, Substantial damage. Right main gear folded landing at mining strip. Patched gear. Flew to airport, fueled. Patched gear, folded taxiing

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.

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