Piper PA-18 N6978B

Summary

On 17 September 2003 at about 00:30 local time, a Piper PA-18 registered N6978B was involved in an accident near Ninilchick, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 September 2003 at 00:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Ninilchick, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

59.9833, -151.0950

Aircraft

Piper PA-18

Registration

N6978B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Anchorage → Homer

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC03LA117

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane which resulted in a collision with terrain during an approach to landing on a ridgeline. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the wind conditions, and an unfavorable wind along the ridgeline.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private certificated pilot was making a landing approach to a ridgeline that was oriented east/west, and was about 1,000 feet long and 30 to 100 feet wide. The pilot said he was landing toward the east. He described the wind as 10 to 15 knots from the southeast. As he approached the ground, the pilot said a burble of wind over the ridge lifted the right wing. The airplane collided with the ridge, and then nosed over. The airplane received damage to the wings, fuselage, and landing gear.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.