Pilot Debrief

PIPER J3C 65 near Talkeetna, AK — 2013-10-10

Final reportANC14CA004
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Date
2013-10-10
Location
Talkeetna, AK, USA
Aircraft
PIPER J3C 65
Registration
N70604
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's decision to make contact with an unsuitable landing surface, resulting in a nose over.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was performing a low pass of a snow-covered off-airport landing site, in a wheel-equipped airplane, to determine the condition of the snow pack. He was dragging the main landing gear on the landing surface, but the snow was deeper than expected, and the airplane nosed over sustaining substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have prevented normal operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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