Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

June 3, 1995 · Piper PA-18-150 · N125FG

Sand Point, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 3, 1995
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Sand Point, AK
Aircraft
Piper PA-18-150
Tail Number
N125FG
Operator
Alaska Dept of Fish and Game
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC95TA067

THE PILOT REPORTED HE HAD LANDED THE 29' TUNDRA TIRE EQUIPPED TAIL WHEEL AIRPLANE ON THE HARD SURFACED RUNWAY AND WAS SLOWING TO TAXI SPEED WHEN THE AIRPLANE SUDDENLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT. HE APPLIED FULL LEFT BRAKE AND RUDDER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STRAIGHTEN THE AIRPLANE BEFORE THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE TAILWHEEL STEERING MECHANISM FOUND THE ANTI-CASTORING LIMITS WERE BELOW THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED BREAK FREE FORCE, WHICH ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO TURN FASTER AND MORE FREELY TO THE RIGHT THAN COMMANDED BY THE RUDDER CONTROL INPUTS. CONVERSATIONS WITH PILOTS WHO HAVE EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH TUNDRA TIRES DISCLOSED THAT AIRPLANES SO EQUIPPED ARE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO HANDLE ON HARD SURFACED RUNWAYS THAN AIRPLANES WITH CONVENTIONAL TIRES.

NTSB Probable Cause

The premature castoring of the tailwheel steering mechanism. A factor associated the accident is the added degree of difficulty in handling airplanes equipped with oversize 'tundra' tires.

Full Narrative

On June 2, 1995, about 1940 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18- 150 airplane, N125FG, equipped with 29" tundra tires, received substantial damage while landing on runway 31 at Sand Point Airport, Sand Point, Alaska. Neither the airline transport certificated pilot, or the sole passenger aboard were injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operated by the State of Alaska's Department of Fish and Game. The purpose of the flight was to return a State of Alaska employee to his work station at Sand Point. The flight operated in visual meteorological conditions, and had departed Port Moller, Alaska, about 1900. The pilot reported that prior to landing, he noted the wind as approximately 5 to 7 knots, straight down the runway. He said in an interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) on June 8, 1995, that he had considered landing in the gravel alongside of the runway because of the better handling qualities of the tundra tires in gravel as compared to those of a hard surfaced runway, but he elected to land on the runway because of the favorable wind and other factors. During the landing roll, he reported the airplane veered to the right. He said he applied hard left brake, full left rudder, and full power. The airplane began to slowly respond to the left, but prior to becoming straight, the left main gear collapsed. Postaccident conversations with the Chief Pilot/Mechanic for the Department of Fish and Game disclosed that he had discovered no obvious anomalies with the accident airplane's wheels or brakes. He did discover the anti-castoring break free limits of the steerable tailwheel was set below the limit recommended by the manufacturer. He said that as a result, the tailwheel would freely castor to the right at a lower than normal load force, which would make it very difficult to control the airplane once it started going to the right. The Chief Pilot is a certificated Airframe and Powerplant mechanic with inspection authorization (IA). The NTSB IIC also spoke with the accident pilot, the Chief Pilot, and other pilots who have extensive experience in landing airplanes equipped with tundra tires. All of the pilots indicated that airplanes equipped with tundra tires are much more difficult to land on hard surfaced runways than gravel or sand. They commented that soft landing surfaces are much more forgiving, and allow the larger tires to move and slide more readily than if they were on a hard surface.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:40 AKDT
Nearest AirportSand Point (0nm)
Runway31
Runway Length4000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-18-150
Tail NumberN125FG
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAlaska Dept of Fish and Game
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-A2B · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 37 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind310° @ 5 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data