SKWENTNA, AK, USA
N9067D
PIPER PA-18A
THE PILOT WAS LANDING ON A RIVER GRAVEL BAR NEAR A REMOTE LODGE. THE LANDING AREA WAS ORIENTED ON A 090 DEGREE HEADING. IT WAS ABOUT 375 FEET LONG AT 2,300 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL. A SLIGHT TAILWIND WAS PRESENT FROM THE WEST OF ABOUT 4 KNOTS. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO NOSE DOWN. HE RELEASED THE BRAKES, BUT WAS APPROACHING THE END OF THE LANDING AREA. THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A DIP IN THE GRAVEL SURFACE WHEN THE PILOT APPLIED BRAKING ACTION ONCE AGAIN. THE AIRPLANE THEN NOSED OVER AND RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE WING RIBS.
On August 17, 1995, about 0900 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18, N9067D, crashed during landing in a remote area near the Post Lake Lodge, about 67 miles west of Skwentna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area business flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The airplane, operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from an area near Rohn, Alaska, about 0830. In a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported that he was asked by a guide to fly to the area of the Post Lake Lodge, near the Post River, to check on the status of clients. He stated that although he is a guide for Alaska Wilderness Outfitters, he was not checking on his own clients. The pilot indicated that he was landing to the east on a gravel bar with a slight tailwind from the west of about 4 knots. The landing area is about 375 feet long at 2,300 feet mean sea level. After touchdown, the pilot applied the brakes and the airplane started to nose down. He released the brakes but was approaching the end of the landing area. The airplane encountered a dip in the gravel surface when the pilot applied braking action once again. The pilot said that the airplane then nosed over and received damage to the wing ribs. Following the accident, the pilot contacted the NTSB Northwest Field Office to report that the airplane did not receive substantial damage. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Anchorage Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) talked with the pilot to arrange for an inspection of the airplane. The pilot did not keep the appointment. An NTSB pilot/operator report (form 6120.1/2) that was provided to the pilot on 8/22/95 and 12/12/95, was not returned.
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF A SHORT/UNEVEN LANDING AREA THAT REQUIRED EXCESSIVE BRAKING ACTION WHILE LANDING WITH A TAILWIND.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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