Paxson, AK, USA
N8597D
Piper PA-18
The airline transport certificated pilot was landing a tundra tire-equipped airplane at a remote landing spot at the conclusion of an on-demand passenger flight. The pilot said the landing area was a rocky ledge, about 900 feet long, and about 12 feet wide, located along the edge of a glacier, about 5,500 feet msl. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear collided with a rock, and the gear collapsed. The right wing struck the ground, and received damage to the wing spar. The pilot indicated that the visibility in the area consisted of hazy conditions with smoke and light rain.
On August 26, 2004, about 0830 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N8597D, sustained substantial damage when the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground during the landing roll at a remote landing spot, about 28 miles north of Paxson, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country on-demand passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by 40 Mile Air Ltd., Tok, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Tok Junction Airport, Tok, Alaska, about 0730. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 26, the pilot reported that he was landing toward the west along the edge of the Spur Glacier, about 5,500 feet msl. The pilot said the landing area was a rocky ledge, about 900 feet long, and about 12 feet wide. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear collided with a rock, and the gear collapsed. The right wing struck the ground and received damage to the wing spar, outboard of the wing lift strut attach point. The pilot indicated that the visibility in the area consisted of hazy conditions with smoke and light rain.
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a collision with a rock and subsequent main landing gear collapse during the landing roll. A factor contributing to the accident was rough, uneven terrain.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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