ANC98LA015

The pilot was landing a tailwheel equipped airplane on a small snow covered airstrip. The surface of the snow was compacted by numerous snow machine tracks. After performing a low pass to assess the runway, the pilot proceeded to land. During the landing roll, the left tire broke through the crusty surface of the snow and sank. The airplane nosed over and received damage to the right wing, the right wing lift strut, the vertical stabilizer, and the propeller.

On January 8, 1998, about 1530 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 180H airplane, N9737G, sustained substantial damage during a landing at the Bold Airstrip, located about 15 miles east of Chugiak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight when the accident occurred. The certificated commercial pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1515.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on January 9, 1998, at 0730, the pilot reported he was landing on runway 14. The surface conditions consisted of snow that was compacted by numerous snow machine tracks. The pilot performed several low passes to assess the runway, and then proceeded to land. During the landing roll, the left tire broke through the crusty snow surface, and sank. The airplane nosed over, and received damage to the right wing lift strut, the right wing, the vertical stabilizer, and the propeller.