Seward, AK, USA
N9668P
Piper PA-18
The solo airline transport certificated pilot was landing a float-equipped airplane in a remote, freshwater bay. The pilot reported that during the landing roll, he added a slight amount of left rudder to straighten the airplane's track on the water. The airplane subsequently cart-wheeled to the left, nosed over, and sank in shallow water. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
On August 6, 2003, about 1630 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N9668P, sustained substantial damage when it cart-wheeled and nosed over during landing in a freshwater bay located on Montague Island, about 60 miles east of Seward, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo airline transport certificated pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Eyak Lake Airport, Cordova, Alaska, about 1445, and a VFR flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 7, the pilot reported that he was landing in Patton Bay, located on the east side of Montague Island. He said he landed to the west, and during the landing roll, he added a slight amount of left rudder to straighten the airplane's track on the water. The airplane subsequently cart-wheeled to the left, nosed over, and sank in shallow water. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. According to the pilot there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
The pilot's inadvertent water loop/swerve during landing roll, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
