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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 16, 1997 · Piper PA-18 · N83675

Gakona, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 16, 1997
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Gakona, AK
Aircraft
Piper PA-18
Tail Number
N83675
Operator
Mcmahan Guide Flying Service
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC97LA104

The pilot was landing a tailwheel and tundra tire equipped airplane on a rocky mountain ridge at 5,400 feet mean sea level. The landing area was about 600 feet long and 50 feet wide. The pilot was landing in a westerly direction and during touchdown the right main landing gear tire struck a rock. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot described the wind conditions as light and variable.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing.

Full Narrative

On July 16, 1997, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N83675, crashed during landing on remote mountainous terrain, about 20 miles east of Gakona, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand passenger flight under Title 14 CFR Part 135 when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by McMahan Guide and Flying Service, Gakona, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot received minor injuries. The sole passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at Gakona about 1230. On July 16, 1997, at 1807, the pilot reported in a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), he was landing on a rocky mountain ridge of Mount Drum, at 5,400 feet mean sea level. The landing area was about 600 feet long, and 50 feet wide. The pilot was landing in a westerly direction and during the landing touch down, the right main gear tire struck a rock. The right main gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane received damage to the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot described the wind conditions as light and variable.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:00 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-18
Tail NumberN83675
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorMcmahan Guide Flying Service
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-A2B · Reciprocating · 160
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 45 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility40 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 6500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data