Piper PA 18-125 N1386A

Summary

On 29 November 2017 at about 21:02 local time, a Piper PA 18-125 registered N1386A, operated by State of Alaska, was involved in an accident near Nikolai, 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

29 November 2017 at 21:02

Classification

Accident

Location

Nikolai, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Tatitna (8KA)

Coordinates

62.2933, -153.3619

Aircraft

Piper PA 18-125

Registration

N1386A

Category

Airplane

Year built

1951

Engines

1

Operator

State of Alaska

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

McGrath → Anchorage

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC18CA017

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s improper decision to contact an unsuitable landing surface, 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 that he had completed one high- and two low-reconnaissance flights over the snow-covered runway in his tundra-tire-equipped, tailwheel airplane. Before landing, he intended to fly a low pass and drag the main landing gear along the surface of the runway to determine the depth of the snow. He said that, as the main landing gear wheels touched down atop the frozen layer of crusty snow, the wheels broke through, and the airplane's tail began to rise. In an effort to prevent a nose-over, he applied full power, but the airplane subsequently nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder and both left and right lift struts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.