SPARREVOHN, AK, USA
N82905
Piper PA-18
The commercial pilot was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane on a remote off-airport landing site. While on short final for the intended landing site, the pilot said the airplane had a sudden loss of lift. The airplane subsequently touched down hard, on rough uneven terrain, and nosed over. The pilot reported that he had not experienced any mechanical difficulties or failures with the airplane that may have contributed to the accident.
On September 11, 2000, about 2000 Alaska daylight time, a tundra-tire-equipped Piper PA-18, N82905, sustained substantial damage while landing at a remote, off-airport landing site, 15 miles south-southwest of Sleetmute, Alaska, at 61 degrees, 26 minutes north latitude, 157 degrees, 20 minutes west longitude. The airplane is registered to and operated by Alaskan Adventures, of Rocklin, California, and was being operated under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, in support of a hunting-guide service. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was activated. The flight originated from another remote site about 1945. During a telephone interview with an NTSB investigator on January 22, 2001, the pilot reported that while on short final for the intended landing site, at an altitude of approximately 10-15 feet above ground level, the airplane had a sudden loss of lift. The airplane subsequently bounced, landed hard in a nose low attitude, and nosed over. The pilot stated that the airplane touched down on uneven sloping terrain, 15 to 25 feet right of his intended touchdown point. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical difficulties or failures with the airplane that may of contributed to the accident.
The pilot's inadvertent stall/mush during the final approach to land. Factors associated with the accident are the pilot's misjudged flare, and the rough and uneven terrain.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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