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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.

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NTSB Report

July 13, 1996 · Piper PA-18-150 · N2561N

Kotzebue, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 13, 1996
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Kotzebue, AK
Aircraft
Piper PA-18-150
Tail Number
N2561N
Operator
Tyrrell G Ross
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC96LA126

The pilot reported directional control difficulties while landing the tundra tire equipped airplane at a rural airstrip used to support his mining activities. The airplane's right main landing gear subsequently collapsed, and the right wing spar, right wing struts, and a portion of the fuselage were damaged. The pilot elected to make temporary repairs to the landing gear by using water pipe, and to the lift struts by taping boards to them. He ferried the airplane from the mining strip to Mc Grath, Alaska, where he obtained fuel. Upon departing Mc Grath, the main landing gear collapsed, and further damaged the airplane (NTSB Accident Report ANC96LA105).

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing.

Full Narrative

On July 13, 1996, about 0900 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N2561N, sustained substantial damage while landing at a rural mining airstrip located 52 miles northeast of Kotzebue, Alaska. The solo, private pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated in Kotzebue, Alaska, about 0800. The pilot reported that he was landing at a remote airstrip used to support his mining operation. He said during a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on August 13, that the airplane's right main landing gear collapsed after he experienced some directional control problems during the landing roll. After the right main gear collapsed, he said the right wing touched the ground, damaging the right wing spar, the right wing's lift struts, and the bottom stringer on the left side of the fuselage. The pilot made temporary repairs to the airplane utilizing iron water pipe as a main landing gear leg, and by taping boards to the lift struts. The airplane was then ferried from the mining strip to Mc Grath, Alaska, where the pilot stopped for fuel. The main landing gear subsequently collapsed while he was taxiing for takeoff at Mc Grath. See NTSB Accident Report ANC96LA105 for the Mc Grath accident information.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:00 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-18-150
Tail NumberN2561N
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorTyrrell G Ross
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-A2B · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 53 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility40 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data