Piper PA18 N7184B

Summary

On 27 August 2016 at about 19:55 local time, a Piper PA18 registered N7184B was involved in an accident near Kenai, 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

27 August 2016 at 19:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Kenai, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

60.7742, -151.8986

Aircraft

Piper PA18

Registration

N7184B

Category

Airplane

Year built

1956

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kenai → Off Airport

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA16CA456

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper soft field landing technique on a soft grass airstrip, 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 of the tailwheel and tundra tire equipped airplane reported that during landing on a soft grass airstrip he conducted a wheel landing instead of a three-point landing. The pilot further reported that during the landing roll, the main landing gear dug into the ground, which resulted in a nose over and substantial damage to both wing struts and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. According to the FAA Airplane Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-3A; SOFT-FIELD LANDING The tailwheel should touch down simultaneously with or just before the main wheels, and should then be held down by maintaining firm back-elevator pressure throughout the landing roll. This will minimize any tendency for the airplane to nose over and will provide aerodynamic braking. The use of brakes on a soft field is not needed because the soft or rough surface itself will provide sufficient reduction in the airplane's forward speed. Often it will be found that upon landing on a very soft field, the pilot will need to increase power to keep the airplane moving and from becoming stuck in the soft surface.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.