Piper PA-18-150 N4316Z

Summary

On 28 August 2012 at about 18:15 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N4316Z, operated by Richard T Gardner, was involved in an accident near Delta Junction, 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

28 August 2012 at 18:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Delta Junction, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Slate Creek (PVT)

Coordinates

64.5500, -144.2500

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N4316Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Richard T Gardner

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Delta Junction → Delta Junction

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC12CA094

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to identify the appropriate touchdown point, which resulted in a nose over.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported he was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane on a rough and uneven, brush-covered, airstrip. Before beginning the approach, he determined the wind direction and a touchdown point. However, after landing, the right main tire dropped into a hole, the tailwheel impacted brush and small stumps, and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the rudder, lift struts, and wings. Upon exiting the airplane, the pilot realized he had identified the wrong touchdown point and landed short of the airstrip. The pilot indicated there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.