Piper PA-18-180 N9488D

Summary

On 7 July 2006 at about 02:30 local time, a Piper PA-18-180 registered N9488D, operated by Joseph Beck, was involved in an accident near Skwentna, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 July 2006 at 02:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Skwentna, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.8736, -151.5064

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-180

Registration

N9488D

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Joseph Beck

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Two Lakes → Skwentna

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC06CA085

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a loss of control during the landing roll, and an on ground encounter with terrain. Factors associated with the accident are the pilot's failure to maintain directional control, and the rough and uneven terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial certificated pilot was landing on a remote gravel bar on a pleasure flight, under Title 14, CFR Part 91. He reported that upon landing the airplane hit either a hole, a rock, or a stump, which he did not see. He stated the airplane was diverted from its intended landing path, and the wing and propeller struck other objects before the airplane came to rest in the river. He said the wing, lift-strut, and propeller were damaged.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.