Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-18-150 near Talkeetna, AK — 2021-09-11

Final reportANC21LA088
Sign in to save
Date
2021-09-11
Location
Talkeetna, AK, USA
Aircraft
PIPER PA-18-150
Registration
N7MY
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control and nose over.

NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that prior to landing at an off-airport, rocky and tundra covered, uphill slope landing site, he made several passes over the area looking for hazards and “dragged” the wheels to test the landing surface. During the landing, the airplane touched down slightly past the “ideal spot”, he applied the brakes, but the airplane did not slow as much has he had expected. As the airplane reached the top of the knoll and started down the other side it began to weathervane to the right. He applied the brakes to avoid rocks and the airplane encountered a large hole that he had “not seen from the air.” Subsequently, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted sustaining substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that the accident may have been avoided if he had selected a more suitable landing site.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

Related mishaps