KING SALMON, AK, USA
N745
Piper PA-18
The commercial certificated pilot was landing on runway 29 at an airport which was an intermediate stop on a cross-country government flight. The wind conditions were reported to the pilot as 070 degrees at 6 knots. After touchdown, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot applied right rudder and right brake pressure, but the airplane continued to the left. The right wingtip and the right aileron struck the gravel-covered ground along the left side of the runway. The wingtip was bent upward slightly, and the trailing edge of the right aileron was buckled upward. The pilot decided the airplane was airworthy, and continued the flight to his final destination.
On April 21, 2001, about 1400 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N745, sustained substantial damage during landing at the King Salmon Airport, King Salmon, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country government flight, under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Cold Bay Airport, Cold Bay, Alaska, about 1010. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on April 24th, an aviation investigator from the U.S. Department of Interior, Office of Aircraft Services, Boise, Idaho, reported that the pilot was bringing the airplane to Anchorage, Alaska, for maintenance. The investigator said that the pilot was landing on runway 29 at King Salmon, and the wind conditions were reported to the pilot as 070 degrees at 6 knots. After touchdown, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot applied right rudder and right brake pressure, but the airplane continued to the left. The right wingtip and the right aileron struck the gravel-covered ground along the left side of the runway. The wingtip was bent upward slightly, and the trailing edge of the right aileron was buckled upward. The pilot inspected the damage, decided the airplane was airworthy, and continued the flight to Anchorage. At 1352, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at King Salmon was reporting in part: Wind, calm; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 5,000 feet broken, 12,000 feet overcast; temperature, 50 degrees F; dew point, 33 degrees F; altimeter, 29.62 inHg.
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and inadequate weather evaluation resulting in a loss of directional control during the landing roll. Factors in the accident were the presence of a quartering tailwind, and an inadvertent ground loop.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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