- Date
- March 9, 2019, 12:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place
- Pullman, WA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N4100ZPiper PA18
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 6, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190309010669A
- Case key
- 99090
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 pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a nose-over.
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 pilot of the tailwheel- and ski-equipped airplane reported that, while landing off airport on a snow-covered ridge, the back of the right ski struck about a 6-inch-tall, firm snow drift. The right ski then pitched forward, the tip dug into the "crusty" snow, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel, ski-equipped airplane reported that, while landing off airport, on a snow-covered ridge, the back of the right ski struck about a 6" tall, firm snow drift. The right ski then pitched forward, the tip dug into the "crusty" snow, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4100Z
- Reported as
- Piper PA18 (150)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-8114
- Built
- 1964
- Airframe hours
- 5,459.45
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2B, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 20, 2018
- Departed
- PUW · Pullman/Moscow, WA
- Destination
- PUW · Pullman/Moscow, WA
- Equipment
- Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS
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
- 63
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 27, 2017
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 2,379 total · 1,268 in this make and model · 2,379 as pilot in command · 38 in the last 90 days · 21 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 16 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
- Observed at
- KPUW, 1 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 17, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 761 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N4100Z · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.