KOTZEBUE, AK, USA
N7682D
Piper PA-18
The certificated private pilot, operating a hunting/guide business, was landing a tail wheel, and tundra tire equipped airplane on a gravel bar near a remote river. The pilot landed toward the west. During the landing approach, the sun was shining in his eyes, and the left main landing gear struck an unseen log. The airplane nosed over, and received damage to the landing gear, right wing and lift struts, and the vertical stabilizer. At the time of the accident, the position of the sun was calculated to be on a 269.6 degree true azimuth from the accident site, at an elevation of 5.2 degrees.
On September 10, 1998, about 2030 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N7682D, sustained substantial damage while landing on a gravel bar near a remote river, about 45 miles northeast of Kotzebue, 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, registered to the pilot, was operated in conjunction with the pilot's hunting/guide business, Hardy Alaska Adventures. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 14, 1998, at 1340, the pilot reported he is a hunting guide. He said he departed a hunting camp located a short distance away from the accident site. He intended to land on a gravel bar along the Squirrel River, to pick up some hunting gear. He was landing toward the west, and during the landing approach, the sun was shining in his eyes. During the landing roll, the left main landing gear struck an unseen log. The airplane nosed over, and received damage to the landing gear, right wing and lift struts, and the vertical stabilizer. At the time of the accident, the position of the sun was calculated to be on a 269.6 degree true azimuth from the accident site, and at an elevation of 5.2 degrees.
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. A factor in the accident was sunglare as the pilot landed into the sun.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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