PAXSON, AK, USA
N4791M
Piper PA-11
The student pilot reported that he was landing on a snow covered, off-airport landing site to watch a winter sports competition. During the landing roll, the main landing gear skis broke through the soft snow and the airplane nosed over.
On March 13, 1996, about 1330 Alaska daylight time, a ski equipped Piper PA-11 airplane, N4791M, sustained substantial damage while landing at an off airport site near Paxson, Alaska. The solo student pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 pleasure flight originated at the Lake Hood Airstrip, Anchorage, Alaska, and operated in visual meteorological conditions. The student pilot reported the accident on March 23. In a written statement provided to the NTSB investigator-in-charge, he wrote that he was landing the airplane on a snow covered surface. During the landing roll, the landing gear skis broke through the snow, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot said he was landing the airplane to watch the Arctic Iron Man competition.
the student pilot's selection of an unsuitable off airport landing site. Factors associated with the accident were the soft and snow covered terrain.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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