NORTH POLE, AK, USA
N4205N
Cessna 140
The certificated private pilot was landing on a grass-covered private airstrip. The airstrip was about 2,000 feet long, and about 75 feet wide. The pilot reported his landing approach was high, and he landed long, about 3/4 down the runway, on wet grass. A light rain was falling. The pilot applied the brakes, and locked them. The airplane began to skid, and drifted to the right. The right wing tip struck tall brush along the right side of the airstrip, and the airplane pivoted to the right. It continued to skid sideways until the left main landing gear caught on the turf. The left wing then struck the ground. The airplane received damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the landing gear.
On June 22, 1999, about 0630 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 140 airplane, N4205N, sustained substantial damage while landing at a private airstrip, about 5 miles northwest of North Pole, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The certificated private pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Clear Creek Army Airport, about 20 miles south of North Pole, about 0600. On July 8, 1999, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations inspector, Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), reported he received notification of the accident on July 7, 1999, and he interviewed the pilot the same day. According to the FAA inspector, the pilot said he was landing on a grass-covered private airstrip known as Peede Road Strip. The airstrip is about 2,000 feet long, and about 75 feet wide. The pilot reported he landed long, about 3/4 down the runway, on wet grass. A light rain was falling. He applied the brakes, and locked them. The airplane began to skid, and drifted to the right. The right wing tip struck tall brush along the right side of the airstrip, and the airplane pivoted to the right. It continued to skid sideways until the left main landing gear caught on the turf. The left wing then struck the ground. The airplane received damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the landing gear. In the Pilot/Operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) submitted by the pilot, he reported that his landing approach to the Peede Road airstrip was high. He said he touched down too far down-field, and applied heavy braking.
The pilot misjudged his altitude and airspeed, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. Factors in the accident were a wet grass runway, and the pilot's excessive application of the brakes.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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