# NTSB ANC97LA104: Piper PA-18, N83675, Gakona, AK, July 16, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 16, 1997, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Gakona, AK
- Coordinates: 62.829853, -143.429855 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.8299&lon=-143.4299&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 4, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3027
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA104
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3027/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA104

## Probable cause

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

The pilot was landing a tailwheel and tundra tire equipped airplane on a rocky mountain ridge at 5,400 feet mean sea level.  The landing area was about 600 feet long and 50 feet wide.  The pilot was landing in a westerly direction and during touchdown the right main landing gear tire struck a rock.  The right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over.  The pilot described the wind conditions as light and variable.

## Factual narrative

On July 16, 1997, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N83675, crashed during landing on remote mountainous terrain, about 20 miles east of Gakona, Alaska.  The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand passenger flight under Title 14 CFR Part 135 when the accident occurred.  The airplane, registered to and operated by McMahan Guide and Flying Service, Gakona, sustained substantial damage.  The certificated commercial pilot received minor injuries.  The sole passenger was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  VFR company flight following procedures were in effect.  The flight originated at Gakona about 1230.

On July 16, 1997, at 1807, the pilot reported in a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), he was landing on a rocky mountain ridge of Mount Drum, at 5,400 feet mean sea level.  The landing area was about 600 feet long, and 50 feet wide.  The pilot was landing in a westerly direction and during the landing touch down, the right main gear tire struck a rock.  The right main gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over.  The airplane received damage to the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and rudder.  The pilot described the wind conditions as light and variable.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N83675](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N83675), registered now, S/N 18-7709116, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-7709116
- Airframe hours: 3980
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Mcmahan Guide, Flying Service
- Registered owner: Harley B. Mcmahan
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 20, 1997, 40 hours before
- Departed: AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 25,000 total, 24,500 in this make and model, 25,000 as pilot in command, 350 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 50 °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 19970716018659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970716018659A), Jul 16, 1997: Piper PA18150, Gakona, AK, Substantial damage. Landing at 5400 ft 600FT narrow moutain ridge. Right gear hit a rock and collapsed. Nosed over.

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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